Baker: ‘We want to win state!’

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The Northwest Herald asked members of Cary-Grove’s football team to share thoughts of their experience this season leading up to the IHSA Class 6A state championship game against Providence Catholic at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Today: Hayden Baker, All-State center

I can’t believe we are going to state.

I have to repeat it to myself because it doesn’t seem real. When I think of all of the talented Cary-Grove teams that went before us, I can’t believe that we did it.

I remember all the playoff games of recent years, from the 2004 state runner-up team to last year’s quarterfinal loss to Crystal Lake South. That loss, after beating South in the regular season, made us grow up a lot as a team. It helped us this season because we didn’t take one thing for granted. We never looked past any opponent. We knew if we did that, we were done.

I have two strong memories from the 2004 season and the Trojans’ last trip to a state title game. Quarterback Brian Mitz was amazing, but we almost lost to Woodstock in the first round and might have lost if there hadn’t been a rain delay. We were so close to not getting past the first round, and that made an impression how it easily could have gone the other way.

The other memory was that Morgan Park semifinal game. We were underdogs, and nobody gave us a chance. It was unbelievably crazy when we won. You felt C-G won not by talent or ability, but because it wanted it more.

The game against Providence Catholic in Champaign is going to be a battle. The Celtics know how to win – they’ve won state nine times. They’re a huge opponent, and all you hear about is how they have had the toughest season.

You might think all that information would be intimidating, but I feel calm about this game. Not cocky, but once the game starts and I’m playing, it’s not like it’s the state championship game against Providence, it will be just a game.

We’ve been preparing for this game most of our lives, and it feels good. I am starting to hear people say that we should be happy that we made it to state, and I think no, not this team. We said it out loud: “We want to win state!” Without a win, the two undefeated regular seasons, a high school record of 40-3, and making All-State – none of it will matter.