Week 8 loss gives PR clear focus

Prairie Ridge's Greg Drain fights through a block during Tuesday's practice at Prairie Ridge High School in Crystal Lake. (Northwest Herald file photo)

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Prairie Ridge’s football team didn’t much like the 24-21 loss to Johnsburg when it happened in Week 8.

The loss ultimately knocked the Wolves out of a three-way tie for the Fox Valley Conference Fox Division championship, but also it benefited Prairie Ridge.

“It kind of woke us up,” offensive tackle and defensive end Greg Drain said. “We were living pretty high for a while there. We realized we needed to kick it into gear and play the way we should.”

The Wolves overcame that disappointment to make school history, winning three playoff games to reach the playoff semifinals for the first time.

Tenth-seeded Prairie Ridge (9-3) visits No. 1 Cary-Grove (12-0) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Al Bohrer Field in an IHSA Class 6A semifinal.

The winner advances to the championship game at 1 p.m., Nov. 28 at the University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium against Providence (11-1) or Danville (12-0).

“That Johnsburg game really helped us keep focus,” Prairie Ridge coach Chris Schremp said. “That was the game that woke our guys up and made them realize they had to work harder. We’ve been so focused on game-by-game that we haven’t thought much about down the line.”

While C-G was ranked among the top 6A teams all season, Prairie Ridge making the semis is a surprise. The Wolves start three sophomores each on offense and defense. On defense, they start only three seniors.

Prairie Ridge defeated Chicago King, 20-12, in the first round, then knocked out No. 2 seed Marmion, 31-7, in the second-round game in which Schremp and players thought might have been their best effort of the season.

Last week, the Wolves made things a little interesting with three first-half fumbles inside Belvidere North’s 20-yard line. North went for a two-point conversion and the lead with about 2 minutes remaining and missed. Quarterback Jon Williams picked up the onside kickoff and returned it 50 yards for the clinching touchdown.

“We’re really having fun doing it, and we’re continuing to have fun,” said fullback Tim Deering, who is fifth among area rushers with 1,119 yards. “We’re working hard and it’s paying off.

“I completely agree with coach. We came out of the Johnsburg game more fired up and focused. We had to get back to where we were.”

Prairie Ridge’s previous quarterfinal teams – in 2002 (10-2) and 2007 (11-1) – had the best records in school history and were expected to reach that level by those outside the program. Schremp says it helped that this team didn’t expect anything long-term and just maintained short-term focus.

“It’s kind of the next step for our program,” Schremp said. “Now they start believing it when they talk about winning a state championship. They see how close they are and that this can really happen. It means more for this team and down the road. We weren’t expected to be there, and yet, here we are.”