Sports
Upstart Palatine Takes on Loyola Academy
Palatine High School will take on Loyola Academy in the 8A football playoffs Saturday, Nov. 13.
The Palatine Pirates will seek to keep a three game winning streak alive Saturday, Nov. 13, against the highly touted Loyola Academy Ramblers from Wilmette.
Palatine finally lands a home game after three straight on the road. The game begins at 6 p.m. at Palatine High School, 1111 Rohlwing Road. A win against Loyola Academy would advance Palatine to the semi-finals of the 8A football playoffs, the doorstep of playing for the state championship.
The Loyola Ramblers come in with a 10-1 record having won seven straight. Their only loss was to Mount Carmel Sept. 18. The Ramblers are the number two seed in the bracket.
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If Loyola beats the Pirates, they will have knocked out both of Palatine's high schools from the state playoffs. Last week the Ramblers defeated the Fremd Vikings 14-7.
Palatine comes in with a 7-4 record. Seeded 14th in their bracket, Palatine is the lowest seeded team remaining in the 8A playoffs. The next lowest is ninth-seeded Naperville North.
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But Palatine has not played like a 14th seed. The Pirates have been on a roll and their wins in the first two rounds of the playoffs were in convincing fashion. On Oct. 29, Palatine beat Glenbard South, the number 3 seed in the bracket and a team that only had one loss on the season.
The Pirates led 28-0 by halftime and cruised to a 28-14 victory.
Last week, Palatine defeated Glenbrook South 42-14. The game was tied 14-14 at halftime, but the Pirates put together a dominating second half performance.
Palatine is playing some of its best football at the most crucial point in the season. The Pirates are led by senior quarterback Cody Bobbit and senior runningback Jimmy Smearman.
The dual rushing attack of Smearman and Bobbit has been exceptionally productive in the playoffs. Both had more than 100 yards rushing against Glenbard. Last week Bobbit put up 203 rushing yards and Smearman had 89.
The winner Saturday will take on the winner of Maine South-Stevenson and play for the opportunity to advance to the state championship game.
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