Coach Worries as Giants Keep Winning

Highland Park High School football Coach Hal Chiodo had a satisfied look as he walked off the field after Friday’s 27-12 homecoming victory over Maine West, but the Giant mentor believes his team has work to do in its final three games.

“This just reminds me of why it is so hard to coach during homecoming week,” Chiodo said. “We were pretty unfocused today. We didn’t play as well as we can.”

What the Giants did was jump out to a 14-0 lead with a drive stalling on the Maine West six-yard line in between touchdowns. Then, they let the Warriors get within two, 14-12, late in the first half before reestablishing themselves.

“I hope we’re not going to try to play just well enough to win,” Chiodo said. “We can’t do that. We’re not that good a team.” He believes the Giants have achieved their 5-1 mark—2-0 in the Central Suburban League North Division—with attentive focus.

Chiodo was pleased with the bend but not break posture of his team’s defense as Maine West quarterback Matt Swanson racked up impressive numbers but not points. He was 23 for 48 for 298 yards and ran 10 times for 76. He rushed for a touchdown and threw for another.

“We knew he was going to throw a lot,” Chiodo said. “As it turned out they only scored 12 points.” Three of Swanson’s official runs were sacks, two by Jared Korn and one by Teddy Sutker.

It was the sacks by Korn and Sutker as well as other defensive plays like those made by Jake Norcia breaking up some of Swanson’s passes the sparked the Giants defense when it was necessary.

“We’ve been doing that all year,” Chiodo said. “We made tackles (when we had to) and could get to the passer.”

Norcia was a triple threat making a difference on offense, defense and special teams. Two of his punt returns set up Giant scores, tipped Swanson passes forced punts and he scored the first touchdown on a pass from Tommy Sutker.

Being a three-way player has its challenges but Norcia takes it in stride. “You can get tired but you still find it in yourself to make plays,” he said. “We have a lot of good receivers so I’m not in all the time (on offense).”

Norcia’s two second half punt returns created the opportunity for the team’s final 10 points putting the contest out of the Warriors’ reach. A 23-yard punt return at the end of the third quarter set up a Josh Pollack field goal and a 54-yard scamper three minutes later was the impetus for a Kelshawn Shields touchdown.

“Those were good football plays,” Chiodo said. Games with Niles North and Glenbrook North remain after that.

The Giants travel to Maine East at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Want Highland Park news in your inbox? Subscribe to Patch's newsletter. Then, "like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.