High school football: Community celebrates Prairie Ridge's state championship

Austen Ferbet began with the usual precaution of not sounding too brash when the question was posed.

Then, the Prairie Ridge tight end-linebacker remembered the season was over.

“It was a goal from the start … yeah, who am I kidding?” Ferbet said. “We knew we could do this. We had to be confident, but not cocky. We knew we could do it, though.”

One week after the Wolves and their fans celebrated their Class 6A football state championship at the University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium in Champaign, they got together and celebrated again Saturday evening in their gymnasium. Prairie Ridge defeated Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin, 48-17, for its second state title in six years.

School District 155 Superintendent Johnnie Thomas, Prairie Ridge Principal Steve Koch, Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley and coach Chris Schremp were among those addressing the crowd. Ferbet and fullback Manny Ebirim spoke as senior team captains.

“I’ve been a part of a lot of football teams; I played at a lot of levels,” Thomas said. “That’s the best team I’ve witnessed in my life. You represent what happens when you prepare and put forth the proper effort.”

The Wolves came up short in their 6A semifinal a year before, 35-27, to Montini. It was a game they led, 27-13, in the second half. Montini went on to win the state title, 38-15, over Crete-Monee, and Prairie Ridge’s players were more motivated than ever to finish the job this season.

“I just remember how we came together as a team, through our loss last year, everyone came together and we’ve been focusing real hard this year,” linebacker Peter Berg said. “It’s amazing. It’s finally hitting us with all the celebratory things we’ve done. It’s great.”

Offensive lineman Ben Schultz enjoyed the atmosphere at school and around Crystal Lake.

“It’s been very exciting, a lot of excitement with classes and teachers and out of school even, in the community when I’m wearing my Prairie Ridge gear people are telling me congratulations,” said Schultz, a junior. “Overall, just a warm and exciting time.”

Ebirim said he will remember the times in practices when, while getting good work done, they still were having fun.

“We all expected greatness from ourselves,” Ebirim said. “We didn’t overlook anyone. We didn’t say we were going to state, we just said, ‘Let’s win every single game and do our best every single game.’ If we can do that, great things will happen.”

Schremp, offensive coordinator Joe Terhaar, defensive coordinator Andy Petersen, Ferbet, Ebirim, Samson Evans, Jeff Jenkins and Joe Perhats will attend the Bears’ game Sunday against San Francisco and be recognized as state champs.

Schremp thanked a long list of people: the administration, trainer Anna Holke, Dave Davis and Kevin Brummond of Davis Speed Center, which trains the players in the offseason, the assistant coaches, the players, the parents, the fans and the cheerleaders. Schremp figured with the Wolves’ prolific offense, the cheerleaders might have done 448 pushups in the 71-7 quarterfinal win over Lake Forest alone, and 3,086 for the season.

Last on Schremp’s list was his wife, Sheri.

“I had to explain to her that I was a football coach,” Schremp said. “She learned what the football lifestyle was like, and she put up with it.”

The players all wore their state championship medals, and the trophy sat in the middle of the court, waiting for photo opportunities afterward. Koch had the final words.

“Two steps after this: Take a lot of pictures with the trophy,” Koch said, “and go win another one next year.”