Yorkville junior Andrew Laurich certainly had a weekend to remember.
The 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive end also contributed on offense, largely in a blocking role at fullback and tight end Friday night, during a stunning 48-26 upset of Southwest Prairie Conference co-champ Oswego.
With the win, the Foxes (5-4) clinched an at-large playoff berth.
“That was a huge game for us,” Laurich said. “We put in that double tight-end formation, and they were not really stopping our running game.”
Come Saturday, Laurich was in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, on a visit to Central Michigan for a Mid-American Conference game against Northern Illinois.
Laurich, who received his first scholarship offer from the Chippewas, figures to get more before his recruitment is finished.
Later in the evening, Laurich and his Yorkville teammates learned the first-round opponent in the Class 7A state playoffs would be conference rival Plainfield Central (8-1), which won a Week 2 matchup 28-13.
The game will be played at 7 p.m. Friday at Plainfield Central.
“We were reading all the projections, and that was one of the teams we thought we might get,” Laurich said. “It’s get-back time. We didn’t really play a great game the first time.”
Football is definitely in Laurich’s blood.
His grandfather, Matt, started Waubonsie Valley’s program and coached the Warriors from 1975 to 1987. His father, Martin, played tight end briefly for Iowa State but had his career cut short by a back injury.
“Right now, I’m projected at defensive end, but I’d love to play tight end,” Laurich said. “I love playing offense, love being on the field.”
Laurich joins three other juniors to form an imposing defensive line for Yorkville.
Jake Davies, who is 6-6 and 220, holds the other end spot, while 6-4, 235-pound Andrew Zook and 6-3, 280-pound Amani Kortie man the tackle positions.
Laurich and Davies each have 15 tackles for loss. Zook has nine and Kortie six. Davies leads the group with 59 tackles, while Zook has 45, Laurich 36 and Kortie six.
“We’re fortunate to have these type of kids,” Yorkville coach Dan McGuire said. “Usually, you’re fortunate to have one good defensive lineman of that caliber. Their ability is pretty amazing, and they’ve grown up playing together.
“There must have been something in the water around here that year. I think they’re all capable of playing on Saturdays in the future.”
First things first, however.
“The last three weeks have been like playoff games to us,” McGuire said. “The chemistry is better and we’re playing our best ball. I’m excited to have to chance to work with this group another week.”
The long road: Making its first playoff appearance since 2015 under first-year coach Boone Thorgesen, Geneva has a long haul to a 3 p.m. Saturday game at Collinsville in the first round of the 7A playoffs.
The 271-mile trip to the suburb of St. Louis will take the Vikings (5-4) more than four hours, but Thorgesen doesn’t mind.
“The players are ecstatic,” Thorgesen said. “It’s a big deal any time you can extend the season. I told the kids I think it’s one of the best things about the playoffs is getting to play teams you don’t know.
“That’s just part of the whole experience. It’s what makes the playoffs.”
This is only the fourth appearance for Collinsville (8-1), which hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2010.
Strength of schedule favors Geneva, whose opponents had a combined 43-38 record, with five making the 256-team playoff field. Collinsville’s opponents went 26-55, with only two making the playoffs.
City bound: Senior linebacker Jacob Bottarini, named CCL/ESCC White Defensive Player of the Year, leads Marmion (6-3) to Chicago’s Gately Stadium for a noon Saturday matchup against Comer (7-2) in the 5A playoffs.
A likely second-round matchup with Nazareth awaits the winner.
