Win over Warren vaults Libertyville into playoffs

Updated: October 15, 2011 12:21AM

The must-have T-shirt on sale at Libertyville this week was the one that said, “Win & We’re In.”

It was a reference to the team needing to knock off dangerous Warren on Friday to secure victory No. 5 on the season and nail down a berth in the IHSA playoffs in longtime coach Randy Kuceyeski’s final season at the helm.

Wildcat fans: Start saving your money for playoff tickets now.

Dominating in every phase of the game, Libertyville crushed visiting Warren 38-6 to improve to 5-3 overall and, based on a very strong strength of schedule, the team will be sending Coach K. into retirement after at least one coveted playoff game.

For Libertyville, the night was almost too good to be true. First, it was Homecoming. Former football team captains were on hand to greet Coach K., who has spent this entire summer and grid season battling throat cancer.

Second, the Cats played like ... well, like a dangerous playoff team.

Max Ebert caught a 7-yard TD pass from Jack Deichl in the first quarter, Deichl scored on a 16-yard run in the second, and Austin Williams drilld a 34-yard field goal on the last play of the half.

In the third quarter, Libertyville scored twice without Warren running a play, as the Devils killed themselves with a muffed punt and a fumble on the kickoff.

Sophomore Conor Simpson got both TDs — scoring on runs of 6 and 4 yards — to make it 31-0 as the celebrating began.

A TD run by Deichl (15-of-19, 77 yards 1 TD, 0 picks) made it 38-0 before Warren (2-6) QB Adam Reuss (4 picks) scored in the late going.

Meanwhile, Libertyville’s defense was coming up with six turnovers.

“It’s one of the best feelings I’ve had in a long time,” said Kuceyeski. “These kids worked really hard for this since the offseason. I’m really happy for them, and I’m happy for our coaches.”

Kuceyeski has not been at full strength all season, as he’s been underdoing chemotherapy for the throat cancer. The treatments is complete, though his voice is not nearly full strength.

Before the season, his two goals were to walk onto the field with his players for every game, and to coach one more time in the playoffs.

Both goals will be achieved when the Cats take the field next Friday against Lake Forest.

“It’s a great relief to win this one instead of going into the final game 4-4,” Kuceyeski said. “It takes the pressure off. Now, we can come out and play a great game against a very good Lake Forest (6-2 after a 16-6 loss to Lake Zurich) team.”

Wildcat senior captain Michael Parker, a defensive lineman, was happy to get his coach into the playoffs one final time.

“Being able to do this for Kuz is an amazing feeling,” he said. “We challenged ourselves to put everything together tonight and play a complete game in all phases.

“Everyone was dialed in.”

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.