Do you think Oswego coach Brian Cooney looks at playoff football through much the same lens as kids do Christmas?
How could he not?
Such was my takeaway upon learning last week that Cooney’s Panthers had completed a perfect regular season with a 23-7 victory at crosstown rival Oswego East.
Oswego (9-0), seeded third in the Class 8A bracket, will open the playoffs at 6:30 p.m. Friday at home against 30th-seeded Waubonsie Valley (5-4).
“You play the schedule the best you can, do your best and let the chips fall,” Cooney said. “It’s 8A, the biggest class. There are no layups.”
It’s the third time Oswego has gone 9-0 in his 12 full seasons leading his alma mater.
Cooney has had a direct connection with many of the program’s high points. The Panthers won two state titles under coach Karl Hoinkes, who took teams to the postseason in 19 of his 26 years.
Cooney was a senior and starting linebacker for the first state championship in 1992. The second came in 2003. Cooney, who had played at Aurora University, was the head sophomore coach as a member of Hoinkes’ staff.
“It’s pretty unique,” Cooney said. “I don’t know how many people have that story. To see it as a player and as an assistant coach, I can appreciate all the effort and hard work that goes into it.”
It will be the 11th trip to the postseason under Cooney and making this one more special? It’s the second time the oldest of Brian and wife Julie’s three sons, Carson, will be a part of it.
Carson Cooney, a starting senior middle linebacker, is an Iowa recruit.
“Obviously, we have the father-son relationship and also player-coach,” Brian Cooney said. “On the sideline, it can’t be all smiles. He’s a passionate player and I coach with some passion, too.”
Brian Cooney’s teams have made the quarterfinals three times — in 2013, 2015 and 2017. But he hasn’t been past the second round since 2017.
“I know how many times it’s been one, two or three rounds,” Cooney said. “It would be great to get to the quarters or further, but I honestly say we have to go at a time. The one in front of you is the important one.”
Challenging road for Blackhawks
West Aurora, seeded fourth in Class 8A, is the area’s only other undefeated team. The Blackhawks open at 7 p.m. Friday at home against 29th-seeded Huntley (5-4).
With top-seeded Lincoln-Way East and 12th-seeded Loyola on the same side, it’s thought to be the tougher half of the 32-team bracket. Each of the past two seasons, the Ramblers have beaten the Griffins in the Class 8A championship game.
“I’ll be honest,” West Aurora coach Nate Eimer said. “I have a belief our team can play with anybody, but to say I’m looking ahead? No way.
“If we’re fortunate to beat a good Huntley team, we have the winner of Naperville North vs. Maine South next, and both those are programs with some pretty good history.”
The Blackhawks returned to the Upstate Eight Conference this season and have heard plenty from critics who consider it a soft schedule. They’ll have a chip on their shoulder as a result.
Far from a perfect process
As usual, the Illinois High School Association’s system of seeding the field’s eight classes based simply on overall record took some heat when the field was announced.
Fans of two area teams, third-seeded St. Charles North (8-1) in Class 7A and sixth seeded Burlington Central (7-2) in Class 6A, had to wince when looking past the first-round matchups.
The North Stars open at 7:30 p.m. Friday at home against Rolling Meadows (5-4), coached by former Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould. If they win, they likely draw two-time defending Class 7A state champion Mount Carmel (6-3), seeded 12th after a tough CCL/ESCC schedule.
Pomazak took the high road.
“I want to be careful with my words,” he said. “The way they use the system we use is where we’re at now. I think it’s worth looking into for the future, but it’s not here and now.
“We always say, ‘If you want to be the best you have to beat the best.’ But we can’t put the cart before the horse. We have to beat a very good Rolling Meadows. Then, as we also always say in the postseason, ‘One more week.’”
Burlington Central coach Brian Iossi, whose team is the smallest in Class 6A and makes the playoffs for the first time since 2014, has a similar but not quite as daunting task.
“We knew all season we were on the bubble between 5A and 6A,” Iossi said. “An upset in a lower class Friday night sealed it. Going to 6A was the biggest surprise.”
The Rockets open at 6 p.m. Saturday at home against 11th-seeded Grant (6-3). The winner then gets the winner between third-seeded Geneva (8-1) and 14th-seeded Amundsen (5-4).
Playing a schedule featuring 6A, 7A and 8A teams in the Fox Valley Conference should help.
