By Mark Gregory
Editorial Director
@Hear_The_Beard
mark@enterprisepublications.com
This weekend, 256 IHSA football teams in eight classes across the state start the postseason with hopes to claim the state championship in Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of Illinois in Champaign.
The only District 202 team with a shot at hoisting the hardware is Plainfield South, who posted a 7-2 record on the season and nearly knocked off Oswego, falling 22-15 in the regular season finale.
Plainfield South (7-2) is the No. 12 seed in Class 8A and host Naperville Central (6-3) at 7 p.m. Friday night.
This is South’s third trip to the postseason and first in Bicker’s three years at the help.
It is the first Cougar team to post at least seven wins in a season since 2010.
“The Oswego game was great for us because it showed the kids what playoff football is like and it showed the kids the grind and what you have to do and how every play is important,” said Plainfield South coach Bill Bicker. “You can’t get frustrated if they get a couple first downs and score or we can’t think it will be easy if we get a couple first downs and score.”
Plainfield South running back crosses the goal line in victory over the Joliet West Tigers. (Photo by Ryan Ostry)
As a program, South has only won two playoff games to five losses, while Naperville Central has a 54-28 record in 31 appearances, including four state finals and a pair of championships.
Bicker said, however, previous stats don’t intimidate the Cougars.
“Our guys have told us that they are 16, 17 and 18 year old kids and our guys are the same age,” Bicker said. “A lot of time we as coaches and the press, we attach the name of the school to a group of kids when really it shouldn’t go that way because they are always a new group.
“The group of kids we have this year are players. They love the game and they love to play and they are really loving and understanding coming together as a team.”
Bicker said South realizes at this point in the season, everyone still standing is a good team.
“When you make the playoffs, every team has made the playoffs too and they are all good and they all believe in themselves.
“We look at Naperville Central as a high quality opponent and we are going to go out there and take our best shot.”
Being at home could help the Cougars, especially if the school and community rally behind them.
South is technically located in the city of Joliet and in School District 202 and with no other Joliet or Plainfield public school remaining, Bicker would like to see everyone back South.
“We want a packed house,” he said. “I am sure we will have some things all week at school to get the students ready, but we would like the community support, too.”