| Catholic whips Fenwick 38-0 |
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JCA 38 - Fenwick 0
JCA starts strong with quick-strike attack
Saturday, August 31, 2002
By Tim O'Reilly Daily Southtown
Ryan Quigley heard the talk about how Joliet Catholic Academy would struggle to score points after graduating many of its key offensive players from last season's Class 5A state champion.
It didn't take long for the JCA quarterback and his teammates to show they were capable.
On the Hilltoppers' first play from scrimmage Friday night, Quigley faked a handoff, dropped back and calmly hit a wide-open Bob Wilkinson in the middle of the field for what turned into a 70-yard touchdown pass.
That score was all JCA needed — though it rolled up many more points anyway — in its season-opening 38-0 rout of Fenwick in nonconference action at Memorial Stadium in Joliet.
"They didn't think we would throw the ball," said Quigley, who was 4-of-9 passing for 117 yards and two touchdowns. "They thought we would run the ball like in the past. We surprised them, and Bobby Wilkinson made two great catches, and the line blocked.
"People thought we wouldn't score offensively, but we came out and did it."
Quigley and Wilkinson (2 catches, 108 yards, 2 TDs) hooked up for another score on the Hilltoppers' second possession. On a third-and-19 situation, Quigley rolled right and lofted a pass to Wilkinson for a 39-yard touchdown.
In addition to holding the Friars scoreless, JCA's defense chipped in some points. Linebacker Chris Bayci returned an interception 80 yards for a TD after fellow linebacker Ryan Lincoln forced it with pressure on Fenwick quarterback Michael Buzinski.
After that score and one of five extra points by Ty Foley, the Hilltoppers led 31-0 with 2:07 left in the third quarter.
"We played against an excellent offensive team, but our defense did a great job," JCA coach Dan Sharp said. "They made some mistakes, but they played great in the red zone.
"If our defense and special teams keep improving, it's going to be a fun team to watch."
JCA led 24-0 at halftime after a 30-yard field goal by Foley with 23 seconds left in the half and a 7-yard run by Quigley with 13 ticks left. Quigley's score was set up by a fumble caused by Scott Robinson and recovered by Bayci on the kickoff return.
"Quigley really established himself early," Sharp said. "We're going to be a threat to throw the football. He sent notice that we can and will throw the football.
"But we did make too many penalties (7 for 45 yards), and we didn't run the ball as well as I would've liked except for that last drive."
Brett Hettman (13 carries, 72 yards) ran 2 yards for the Hilltoppers' final TD with 2:41 left in the game.
The Hilltoppers outgained Fenwick 276 yards to 174. JCA ran for 159 yards and the Friars for 129.
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