By Mike Walsh
Qualifying for the IHSA state playoffs in back-to-back campaigns has proven to be elusive for Argo.
The program has never made postseason appearances in consecutive years, and entered Week 8 needing one win in its last two games to get to five victories and a likely playoff berth.
Six wins clinches a spot in the playoffs.
But on Oct. 13 in Summit, it was Evergreen Park clinching a spot in the postseason as the Mustangs defeated the Argonauts, 33-7, in South Suburban Red action.
Evergreen Park (6-2, 5-1 SSC Red) is in the playoffs for the fifth straight season.
Since defeating Shepard 17-7 on Sept. 23 and improving its record to 4-1, Argo (4-4, 2-4 SSC Red) has lost to Eisenhower, Richards and Evergreen Park by a combined score of 102-35.
“Getting that fifth win has been a problem for us,” Argo coach Phil Rossberg said. “We’re kind of depleted a little bit right now and we’re getting banged up here at the end.
“Offensively, we just didn’t have the firepower. [Evergreen Park] definitely won up front, for sure.”
Running back Steve Holmes scored the lone touchdown of the game for Argo on an 11-yard run. He finished with 78 yards on 21 carries.
Argonauts quarterback Tadeo Sierra was 10-of-23 passing for 83 yards with three interceptions.
“I thought we matched up well with them at the beginning of the game but they hit a groove and their big boys got going up front,” Rossberg said.
Leading the Evergreen Park offense was the backfield tandem of Jay Adjayi and David Johnson. Adjayi, a senior running back, finished 116 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Johnson, a junior, had 68 yards and two TDs.
Quarterback Aidan Bench completed 7-of-10 passes for 84 yards a score and senior wide receiver Keshaun Lee caught two passes for 41 yards and a TD.
Argo finishes the regular season Thursday night at 6 p.m. at home against TF South (3-5) in a South Suburban crossover. A win will make the Argonauts eligible for an at-large playoff berth.
IHSA will announce its playoff pairings beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday.
“If we get five wins, that gives us a chance,” Rossberg said. “It doesn’t matter what everyone else does. We have to do our job and put our kids in the best position to win. This will be the seniors’ last home game and we don’t want it to be their last game.
“Our goal at the beginning of the year was five wins and we have a chance. Our other goal was to make the (state) playoffs for the second straight year for the first time. TF South will come out and play some ball. TF South is very tough and their record is very deceiving. It’s Senior Night for us and we’re excited.
“It all comes down to one (game). We have to empty our gas tank and hope we come out on top and get the win.”