Oak Forest High School is celebrating a historic achievement as its varsity football team advances to the state semifinals for the first time since 2008. With a season record of 12-1, the Bengals’ impressive performance has energized both the school and the Oak Forest community.
“This accomplishment is huge for our school and our community,” said Athletic Director Matt Manzke. “Our coaches and players have worked tirelessly — not just during the season, but throughout the offseason and summer — to reach this point. It’s not just about the high school; it’s about everyone in Oak Forest rallying together and taking pride in what this team has achieved.”
The Bengals’ only loss this season came against Hillcrest, but Manzke emphasized that the setback became a turning point. “The most satisfying thing for me is how our guys responded to that loss,” he said. “They came back together, got better, and showed incredible maturity and leadership. That’s what great teams do.”
Under the leadership of Head Coach Zachary Sadek, who is in his first year at the helm, the Bengals have demonstrated remarkable resilience and unity.
“Making the state semifinals is a testament to the work put in by these players, both on the field when they were being coached, and off the field when no one was watching,” said Sadek. “They have believed in the process, and their success is the byproduct of holding themselves to a standard of what it means to be a student-athlete at Oak Forest.
“This being my first year as head coach of the program, the credit lies solely with our players and our staff,” Sadek continued. “I believe in empowering a staff to make decisions, and they have done a great job being teachers of young men and holding them accountable. These players put in the work with the staff that helped lay the foundation — when they didn’t have a coach, and when they got a new coach. It is a testament to their ability to overcome adverse situations.”
Manzke also credited the team’s senior leadership as the backbone of the Bengals’ success. “Our seniors have had a goal to get to state since they walked in as freshmen,” he said. “They’ve set the tone and shown what true dedication looks like.”
Oak Forest will face Providence Catholic this Saturday in the semifinal round. If victorious, the Bengals will advance to the IHSA State Championship, held at Illinois State University in Bloomington-Normal the following Saturday at 10:00 a.m. The championship matchup would feature Oak Forest against either Belvidere North or Wheaton St. Francis.
Manzke expressed optimism as the Bengals continue their historic run. “At this point in the season, every team you face is great,” he said. “But our guys are playing awesome football right now. Why not go get another win?”