Lane Tech (5-4) lost 42-7 to Maine South (10-0) in the opening round of the Class 8A state football playoffs.
Players and teams don’t always live up to their press clippings and hype. But Maine South quarterback Matt Alviti was as good as advertised in the win over Lane.
Alviti, who will attend Northwestern next season, completed 25-of-36 passes for 326 yards and five touchdowns.
“He prolongs every play,” Lane head coach Fred Proesel said after the loss. “Alviti has done it since he was a sophomore. We knew he was the number one threat.”
“Our receivers are awesome,” Alviti admitted. “I think we’ve got the best receiving corps in the state.”
Awesome might be a good word to describe Alviti on this day in Park Ridge. Alviti completed 25 passes to six different receivers. Alviti even scored on a three-yard run in the fourth quarter. On the season, Alviti has 27 touchdown passes and has rushed for 13 touchdowns.
Maine South’s Pat Maloney is considered one of the state’s best players by some writers. His first quarter knee injury threatened to slow the Maine South juggernaut. But Alviti threw four touchdown passes in the first half, building a 28-0 lead.
Maloney will play for Ball State in 2013.
Lane did sack Alviti twice, but he also made plays avoiding pressure.
“The line played and they have been playing great all year,” Alviti said.
Maine South scored on its first four possessions after forcing Lane to punt on its opening.
Alviti began the aerial show with a 12-yard touchdown pass to John Solari for a 7-0 advantage.
Lane was limited to 76 yards in the first half as Alviti threw two touchdown passes to Daly Guzaldo.
Jack McLaughlin scored Lane’s only touchdown in the third quarter. However a second Lane drive was disrupted by Maine South’s Chris Buscemi. Buscemi intercepted a pass late in the third quarter, running 30 yards. Alviti scored five plays later for a 35-7 lead.
Maine South sealed the victory in the fourth quarter as Alviti threw a 65-yard touchdown pass to George Sajenko. Sajenko made a nice play turning a short pass into a long touchdown.
Maine South will host Conant (7-3) in the second round of the Class 8A playoffs as the Hawks will try to win a sixth state football title.
“I’m very proud of our kids,” Proesel said. “If you told us after the loss to Glenbrook North that we would be playing in the state playoffs, it doesn’t matter who you are playing.”
Lane will now shift it focus to the Public League playoffs.
Lane began the season with back-to-back losses to de LaSalle and Glenbrook North before winning five straight contests. Simeon (8-1) topped Lane 42-6 for the section championship.
“They were ready to play,” Alviti said. “They gave us all they had. We just executed well.”
Related posts:
- Lane Tech Falls to #1 Maine South in IHSA Playoff
- Simeon Overcomes Lane, Wins Sectional
- Lane Lacrosse Gets Past Maine South
- Dunbar Cruises After Lane Tech Grabs Early Lead
