These Pirates groomed for success

When Taylor Aiello, Ryan Hourigan, Dan Sutton and their classmates first came to Palatine they watched highlights of football legends before the program's fall.

John Nalley and Frank Mariani, who were the freshman coaches at the time, would show them clips of Bubba Mariani, Sergio Lund, Mike Burden, Yaacov Yisrael and many others who made the Pirates one of the state's premier programs.

Then a 12-year run of postseason trips that included a runner-up state finish in Class 5A in 1994 ended. A 10-year run of turning in equipment after Week 9 began.

But Frank Mariani and Nalley repeatedly talked to this freshman group about ending the downward spiral.

So it was fitting that Sutton provided his own highlight-reel moment as he raced 96 yards with a kickoff up the middle for a touchdown.

That set off drought-ending water-cooler baths for third-year head coach Tyler Donnelly and defensive coordinator Rick Splitt.

Division I senior defensive end prospect Monroe Brooks hugged classmate Tom Eanes and shouted, "We're going to the playoffs, baby."

And as time ran out on the Pirates' 49-20 victory at Schaumburg, a group of their fans unfurled a banner that said, "Welcome back to the playoffs, Pirates."

Back where they were once expected to be annually.

"Nothing has felt better this year," said Aiello, part of an offensive line that could make the Pirates a team no one wants to play in a postseason opener. "We've worked hard and as freshmen it's all we talked about. This is four years in the making."

After 10 years of waiting.

"It feels amazing," said senior offensive lineman Casey McCabe. "We've been working since freshman year to get out and do this. Everyone has come together and is loving it."

It wasn't easy. Much of this same group started 2-1 last year and then struggled through 6 straight losses to finish the season.

There were tough losses by a point to Lake Forest and to then unbeaten Rolling Meadows in the first three games this season. But the Pirates weren't going to let their hard work go to waste.

"We've got kids all season long who never let down on anything," Donnelly said. "Win or lose."

And the payoff for their perseverance came Saturday.

"It feels great," Hourigan said. "I'm so looking forward to the playoffs."