Deerfield celebrates conference crown, heads to state playoffs with confidence

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Deerfield players celebrate their conference championship after defeating Highland Park at home 45-21on Friday. | Michael Jarecki ~ For Sun-Times Media

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Updated: November 28, 2011 8:12AM

Deerfield vs. Highland Park in football — with both teams being winners of five straight, and the CSL North title on the line.

The winner advances to IHSA playoffs; the loser goes home.

Game on.

Not really, as Deerfield shocked the Highland Park home crowd by roaring to a 31-0 halftime lead en route to a relatively easy 45-21 victory.

First, it was Jacob Balder breaking around right end for a 68-yard touchdown, sprung by a crushing block on a Giants linebacker by Joe Harris. Then it was Tyler Vajdic up the middle, to the left, to the right and back — to the tune of 188 yards on 30 carries, including touchdown runs of 24 yards and a yard. Marc Pagano was next, reaching the end zone from the 16-yard line.

Let’s not forget the orchestrator of the offense, Brad Holway, who scored from four yards out. And there was a field goal by Michael Maki, this time from the 32.

So what does coach Steve Winiecki talk about first? The offensive line. That’s been an integral part of a highly successful rushing attack, which helped the team average 41 points a game in five straight wins.

“Left to right on the line: (Jordan) Cloch, (Omar) Alrashid, (David) Vanderkloot, (David) Mospan, (Casey) Spiwak, Harris,” Winiecki said. “What a great job they’ve been doing.”

Or, as Vajdic put it.

“Where do I begin with this offense?” It’s the offensive line and the blocking,” Vajdic said. “They opened up big holes, and all I saw when I got the ball was green.”

Added Highland Park coach Hal Chiodo: “(Deerfield) played a very good game. They came out right from the start and took charge on the line of scrimmage.”

Recap: It wasn’t just the Warriors’ offense (459 yards rushing) that stood out. The defense totally shut down the Giants in the first half and gave up meaningless scores in the second.

“Our defense was in position and made the plays,” Winiecki said. “We lost a little focus in the second half, but we played well.”

Interceptions were recorded by Art Bess and Maki, while Brett Freedberg recovered a fumble and rambled 61 yards for a touchdown.

“That was my first varsity touchdown,” Freedberg said. “Wow.”

Deerfield also punched Highland Park in the mouth, so to speak, led by the crunching hits of Jacob Balder, Austin Jones, John Kerstein and Bess — among others. Early in the game, a Highland Park receiver had his hands on a ball and Balder drove right through him, forcing an incompletion. Soon after, Jones drove another Giants receiver out of bounds, leading to another dropped pass — and leaving Highland Park stunned.

“We wanted to come out and hit them, play tough,” Balder said.

On the schedule: The good news for the Warriors? They qualified for the IHSA Class 6A playoffs. The bad news for Deerfield is that it will have to face East Suburban Catholic League champion Nazareth Academy in the first round. Led by star running back Joshua Moore, Nazareth averages 32 points per game.

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Saturday in LaGrange Park.

“It’s very rewarding for the program in general (winning conference and qualifying for the playoffs), and these seniors, in particular,” Winiecki said. “We are hitting on all cylinders now, but we still have room to improve.

“Nazareth is a great team led by a strong senior group. They run the ball very well and are very aggressive on defense. They also have the best special teams we have seen all year.”

Deerfield’s special teams unit isn’t too bad, either, with several punt blocks accumulated — plus the strong and accurate leg of Michael Maki on kickoffs and field goals.

And the Warriors won’t have to take a back seat to Nazareth’s offense or defense, as Deerfield averaged 41 points per game while allowing only 11 during its winning streak.