Knights not worried about getting defensive

Prospect's offense has been tough to stop with quarterback Miles Osei and receiver Mike Przespolewski.

But much of the focus will be on the defense when the No. 8 Knights (7-2) host Rockton Hononegah (7-2) in the Class 7A playoff opener Saturday night. The Indians beat Belvidere North 27-21 to end the regular season.

Prospect has tried to recover, step by step, since allowing 54 points in a Week 4 loss to Schaumburg. The Knights have allowed 76 points in their last five games and reached the playoffs for the 11th time and fourth consecutive year after winning the MSL East.

"I think we're playing much better than we did three weeks ago," said Prospect senior cornerback John Kosac, whose team finished 4-0 at home this season. "(The defense) has improved a lot. We're starting to get it more. We're coming together."

The Knights watched the release of the playoff pairings on Comcast cable TV while gathering at the home of senior center-linebacker Matt Babicz.

Prospect, which has won five consecutive games, is the "little team that could." The Knights have only 39 players on their roster and have been outmanned in nearly every game this season. Prospect has relied on two-way players such as Babicz, Przespolewski at cornerback, lineman John Sawicki, receiver-linebacker Peter Bonaboom, receiver-safety Sean Baltowski and receiver-safety Austin Sobey.

"Our two-ways starters, they fight (fatigue) a lot," Kosac said. "They know how to handle it."

Kosac and the secondary probably won't have to worry about chasing receivers downfield. Hononegah quarterback Chase Robinson attempted only seven passes against Belvidere North and completed two to Dustin Meier. Robinson (15 carries, 72 yards) scored two rushing TDs and Brett McWilliams (25 carries, 217 yards) scored two other TDs.

The Indians boast another offensive weapon in place kicker Matt Adams, who booted field goals of 37 and 29 yards in a Week 8 loss to Boylan. Hononegah's only other loss was to NIC-10 runner-up Harlem.

The Knights defense ranks 30th among 32 Class 7A teams in points allowed with a 21.7 average. Hononegah's defense averages 18.7 points. Prospect is fourth in points scored per game (35.4) and tops Hononegah (33.6) in that category.

East St. Louis (8-1) is one of the favorites based on its Class 7A-leading 51.0 scoring average and No. 2 average in points allowed (7.2) behind only Glenbard West (7.0).

The Knights will play a member of the NIC-10 for the third time in the last four years after losing to Rockford Boylan 14-7 in last year's first round. Prospect beat Belvidere 37-12 in the 2005 semifinals on the road to winning their third state title.

Prospect 34

Elk Grove 6

Star Performances

Miles Osei: 282 passing yards, 119 rushing yards, 5 TDs

Austin Sobey: 5-106 receiving, INT

Class 7A Playoff Matchup

Who: Hononegah (7-2) at Prospect (7-2), 7 p.m. Saturday

Where: 801 W. Kensington Road, Mt. Prospect

What's at stake: Home game and overall improved play should help Knights make it past the first round this season. A win sets up a possible showdown with Geneva, a No. 1 seed in Class 7A, on the road.