Similar area, different directions

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:24PM

On one side of town they're playoff-bound, having racked up a 5-2 record and enough playoff points to ensure their season extends to Halloween weekend.

On the other side of town, they have no such assurances, needing to win their final two games to qualify for the Big Dance and avoid free-falling from the playoff cliff.

Prior to the season-opening kickoff, who could have ever predicted that Tinley Park High School would be in and Andrew would be on the verge of being left out of the postseason?

But that's how this unpredictable season has played out through seven weeks on the two sides of town.

East of Harlem Avenue, Titan Nation is in a celebratory mood - and rightfully so. It's been 10 long years since Tinley Park has qualified for the postseason. Back in 2000, a shooting star by the name of Willie Trimmer guided the Titans to a 9-0 regular season, only to be bounced in the first round of the postseason.

Since then, the Titans have endured nine consecutive losing seasons.

However, the 2010 Titans are for real, folks. If not for a pair of last-second breakdowns to perennial powers Oak Forest and Lemont, Tinley Park could be undefeated. Still, these Titans, led by running back Hassan Abdullah, quarterback Kyle Sheridan and wide receiver Eldridge Anderson, have provided a major boost in school pride and spirit. Titans athletic director Mike Mongan had to turn fans away during a Homecoming victory over Hillcrest.

Tinley Park coach Nick Johnston and his Titans won't rest easy until they secure another win, preferably Friday night against Evergreen Park. Per IHSA rules, six wins and you're automatically in the playoffs. But the Titans, with 34 playoff points and more to add the next two weeks, are virtual locks to qualify, even if they finish 5-4. Generally, a total of 32 points earns advancement.

"It may look that way, but we're not taking any chances," Johnston said Friday after his Titans drubbed T.F. North 28-14. "We would prefer to take any drama out of this and win another game. Well, we'd like to win our next two games. That's what we're striving for. We're not satisfied yet."

West of Harlem Avenue, there is anxiety. A bounce here or there and Andrew would be sitting 6-1 and making playoff plans. But the football gods have not been kind to Jim Zimmer's club. The Thunderbolts have lost four games by a total of 22 points, including a pair in overtime and another in the final seconds, and are 3-4.

They have to travel to Bradley, also known as Homer Simpsonville, and execute Zimmer's game plan while avoiding the imaginary infractions that always seem to benefit the Boilermakers.

That's not to say Bradley doesn't have the personnel to win outright. The Boilermakers have handed Thornton its only loss and knocked off a good Thornridge club.

If Andrew can depart Bradley with a win, the T-bolts then have to upend Lincoln-Way North in a do-or-die Week 9 affair. North is 6-1 and dangerous. The good news? Andrew will be at home and should have redemption on its mind after the Phoenix ripped the conference title away in the regular-season finale in 2009.

"I know it's a cliche, but we need to take it one game at a time," Zimmer said. "We can look back at our schedule and make a case we could be undefeated. Come the fourth quarter, we just haven't been able to finish. We've made some silly mistakes, whether it was penalties or missed field goals here or there."

The return of featured running back Andre Gahan should provide a big lift to Andrew. At least Zimmer hopes it does.

"We hope he's back this week," Zimmer said. "Andre makes us a better team. We'd prefer to have a full team the last two games. It comes down to us having to win two football games. But first we have to win Friday."

On the other side of town, they face no such drama.

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