| JCA 7 - Loyola 0 |
 |
Wilkinson, JCA trip up Loyola
By Bill Scheibe STAFF WRITER Joliet Herald News
Road war: Quigley-Wilkinson combo, Hillmen defense fuel shutout
WILMETTE — For a moment, Bobby Wilkinson adjusted his feet at the line of scrimmage as one of the three wide receivers in Joliet Catholic Academy's trips package.
He shuffled — stuck in neutral.
Little did Loyola know that Wilkinson was priming up. Looking over at senior quarterback Ryan Quigley, he was ready to pull off his best Bobby Labonte imitation.
Pedal to the metal.
"It was a wheel," Wilkinson said of his route. "I go lateral, maybe five or 10 yards, and then just break it up the sideline. I know 'Quigs' saw me, I saw him, and it was all flowing."
Going with that flow, Wilkinson was a Hot Wheel. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound senior snared an 18-yard pass from Quigley in the corner of the end zone with 7:59 remaining in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead.
And little did JCA or Loyola know that Wilkinson's catch would be the only TD scored during the non-conference football heater at Sachs Stadium. Senior kicker Ty Foley's booming extra-point kick provided the exclamation point and the Hillmen defense never wilted, pitching a sweaty second straight shutout.
The 6-2, 175-pound Quigley started as balmy as the 90-degree gametime temperature, completing his first 5 passes and finishing the first quarter 5-of-6 for 102 yards. Wilkinson, the DC to Quigley's AC in heavy-metal action, had 3 receptions for 78 yards. But JCA (2-0) would need the Hill's defensive mettle to scatter Loyola (0-2).
"We knew they would be bunched up," JCA coach Dan Sharp said. "A lot of teams are preparing for us based on our reputation for running the ball. We put in a nice scheme, and 'Quigs' is outstanding in orchestrating the passing game. We got off to a great start, but then we struggled in the red zone."
"We got the quick score, and I thought we'd have that all day long," Quigley admitted. "We were moving the ball well in trips, and that's going to be a mainstay of our offense. We have to execute all game long — not just in the beginning."
The beginning turned into the end of JCA's offensive thrust. The Hilltoppers fired the engines with their 6-play, 48-yard scoring drive, highlighted by a 12-yard swing pass to senior fullback Brett Hettman, a 10-yard sideline pattern to junior tight end Jim "Jumbo" Jadron and Wilkinson's game-winning grab.
While Quigley (6-of-13, 120 yards) went 6-of-10 in the first half, JCA segued to a split back-single wing formation behind the 6-1, 210-pound Hettman (12 carries, 60 yards) and junior wingback Bobby Buchanan (10 carries, 45 yards). The Hillmen were limited to 21 yards rushing on 8 carries in the first half, but closed with 106 on 30.
"We wanted to establish the running game in the second half," Sharp said. "We needed to get back to being able to bloody a few noses. But where our diversity last year was who were we going to hand off the ball to, our diversity now has to come from mixing in the pass."
Aside from Wilkinson's 101.9 TD catch — he was rockin' with The Mix — JCA took a pass on the end zone. Offsetting penalties negated a burst-filled 51-yard TD run in the third quarter by Buchanan, who stiff-armed a Loyola linebacker on a sweep and headed for the house better than a cheetah on diesel.
"I thought we'd keep on going," said Wilkinson, who uncoiled a devastating downfield block on Buchanan's run. "We had Bobby's TD called back, but our 'D' stepped up. They're an amazing group of guys."
In the second half, JCA's defense sang the equivalent of Amazing Grace. The JiLT linebacker crew of sophomore Chris Jeske (12), senior Ryan Lincoln (9) and junior Jake Trader (10) combined for 31 tackles, holding Loyola to 3 first downs, 27 yards rushing and 68 overall in the final 24 minutes.
"We knew we had to put up the shutout," Jeske said. "We played OK. We saw stuff we'll work on in practice. We fix those minor points, we'll look good down the road."
Loyola's path was paved over by JCA's defensive stops. The Hillmen thwarted a fake field-goal attempt and blocked another via the mitts of mountainous right tackle Steve Douglas. Plus, on the Ramblers' last drive, sacks by Jadron and senior rush end Brad Sing sent the markers to 3rd-and-40 and 4th-and-34.
"We knew it was a passing situation," said Sing, who had 2 sacks. "We had to get upfield and sack the quarterback. That's my job."
"That Loyola drive was the key to the game," Sharp pointed out. "They were close (at the 32), and it was a big series. Our defense is our personality right now, but I believe our offense will catch up in a hurry."
To Wilkinson, it's an offensive transformation like green ketchup and Howard Stern doing disco.
Totally trippin'.
"It gets me smiling," he said. "With line protection, Quigs' arm and our speed, there's nothing we can't do in trips. We're looking forward to that as a premier package."
The Chicago Tribune account of the game.
|
eMail
JolietCatholicFootball
"Any man's finest hour - his greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear - is
that moment he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted
on the field of battle . . . victorious."
Vince Lombardi
Our Lady of Victory . . .
Pray for Us!
Contents of this site may not be used without prior written permission.
|
|
|
