Red Devils Down the Rockets on Coach Vicini's Night
Hall 47 Rock Falls 30
by Jim Dresbach- BCR & Kevin Chlum- News Tribune
October 18, 2008
Rockets passing game keeps things interesting at Hall
By Jim Dresbach
BCR Correspondent
Saturday, October 18, 2008 1:20 AM CDT
SPRING VALLEY — The Hall Red Devil scoring blitz continued Friday
night against the Rock Falls Rockets, but a pass-happy Rocket
offense kept the 2008 NCIC-Lincoln finale interesting at Nesti
Stadium on a damp, cool evening for high school football.
With their 47-30 victory against the Rockets, the Red Devils again put a major power surge onto the scoreboard as Hall running back Austin Pozzi scored four touchdowns and rushed for 168 yards in Hall’s final regular season home game.
During the past two Friday nights, the Red Devils have tallied a total of 110 points, yet Hall Coach Gary Vicini’s post game comments addressed his defense after praising his touchdown-hungry offense.
“Offensively, I thought we did well,” the Hall coach said about his offense that finished the night with 365 yards. “(Quarterback) Michael (Swingel) hit a couple big passes early to Pozzi, so we did really well offensively early. We kept scoring.
“Defensively, we stopped them a couple times, but it was too easy and too often (for Rock Falls),” Vicini added. “We made it too easy for them. There were some major deficiencies tonight on defense in our (pass) coverage. We have to get a lot better at that.”
While the Red Devils never trailed, the Rockets kept their jet boosters hot on the home team’s heels the majority of the evening.
At halftime, the Red Devils had outscored Rock Falls 28-9, but two third quarter touchdown passes by RF quarterback Dylan Koeppen drew the visitors to within 12 points at 35-23.
But big first carries by Hall rushers were a part of the main scoring theme for the Red Devils. Pozzi, Chris Somogyi and Jacob Piccatto all scored on their first rushing attempts of the night, as Hall pounded the end zone for seven six-pointers.
Pozzi’s first touch of the game – the second play after the opening kickoff – resulted in a 66-yard score, and Somogyi got into the scoring column with an eight-yard run in the second quarter.
Piccatto’s first attempt turned into a 10-yard barrel into the end zone to start the final quarter.
Pozzi also scored on 5, 10 and 8 yard runs and hauled in a 32-yard pass from Swingel for Hall’s second touchdown of the evening.
Swingel completed three passes for 55 yards, and on defense, the Hall junior intercepted a Rock Falls pass that snuffed out a third quarter Rocket rally.
“The big pick (by Swingel) helped us because they had just recovered an onside kick,” Vicini said of a key moment in the third quarter.
“That was huge because we took the ball and scored.”
The Rocket offense produced four scores and a 45-yard field goal from RF kicker Zohar Burciaga.
The Red Devils now stand at 5-3 for the year, and head to Champaign for a non-conference match-up against St. Thomas More.
Hall pays tribute to Vicini
Saturday, October 18, 2008
By Kevin Chlum
sports@newstrib.com
Minutes before warm-ups began for his last regular season game at
Nesti Stadium, Hall coach Gary Vicini stood at midfield with his
final Red Devil team and family gathered around him.
School board president Todd Fanning talked about Vicini’s
illustrious career, and presented the hall of fame coach with a
crystal football.Vicini’s family — wife, Lisa, and daughters Gina,
Claire and Kate — unveiled a red flag with white letters that read,
“GJV 1984-2008.” The flag will fly at Nesti Stadium.The homecoming
crowd, including a handful of Rock Falls fans, then rose four
fingers in honor of Vicini before giving him a standing
ovation.
An emotional Vicini stepped to the microphone to thank the school board, administrators, parents, players and his family. “I told the Red Devils of 2008 that this (game against Rock Falls) is the beginning of a seven-game run,” Vicini said near the end of his remarks, alluding to another run at a state championship.
The 2008 Red Devils then made sure Vicini will have one last shot
at his third state championship with a 47-30 victory over Rock
Falls in the NCIC Lincoln Division finale.
With the win, the Red Devils (5-3, 3-2) locked up their ninth
straight playoff berth and their 20th postseason appearance under
Vicini.
PREGAME SPEECH FROM BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESIDENT TODD FANNING:
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Richard Nesti Stadium and
Hall High School as we celebrate 25 years of football excellence
under the leadership of Red Devil head coach Gary Vicini.
In August of 1984, coach Vicini led his first group of varsity
players into battle in week 1 against the Amboy Clippers.
Amboy, the eventual state champs that year, defeated the Red Devils
37 to 8. But in week 2, the Red Devils gave coach
Vicini his first varsity win defeating Marseilles by a score of 34
to 12. This victory would be the foundation and starting
point for what would be 25 years of football success unprecedented
in Hall High School history. During the years 1984 to the
present, coach Vicini has established the Hall Red Devil football
team as not only a power in the NCIC, but also a program respected
state wide for its tough nose, smash mouth football. Coach
Vicini’s accomplishments as head coach of the Red Devils
include-
A record of 193 wins and 79 losses for a winning percentage of
71%
The Hall High School record for victories in one season, 13 wins in
both 1995 and 2001.
Six NCIC championships during the years 1990, 1991, 1994, 1997,
2005 and 2007.
Nineteen appearances in the state football playoffs including 14
times in the last 15 years.
State runner-up in 1996 losing to Carterville
State champions in 1995 defeating DuQoin 38-32.
State champions in 2001 defeating Leroy 21-0.
This unbelievable run of football excellence has earned coach
Vicini a place in Hall High School football history. The
Board of Education is proud tonight to present coach Vicini, and
his wife Lisa, and daughters Gina, Claire and Kate, with a crystal
football trophy to honor his outstanding leadership and service to
Hall High School.
In addition to the crystal football trophy, the Board of
Education would also like to unveil tonight a special flag to be
flown at Nesti Stadium to forever commemorate coach Vicini’s tenure
as Red Devil head coach. His daughters will NOW unfurl
the flag.
A tradition of Red Devil football is for the coaches and players to raise four fingers at the end of the 3rd quarter of each game as a symbolic reminder that the 4th quarter belongs to the Red Devils. Well, it is now the fourth quarter of Coach Vicini’s career, and it is time for all of us to raise four fingers in honor of our coach. Gary, thank you for all the years of success and memories you have given us and for your dedication to Hall High School. Good luck to you in your future endeavors and for the remainder of this final season. And as Gary always says, remember it’s a great day to be a Red Devil. Let’s hear it for Gary Vicini!"
