| No contest, JCA 58-8 |
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Mike Menozzi JolietCatholicFootball.com
Joliet Catholic cruised though the first round playoff game against Chicago Corliss Friday night.
Brad Bourg made his return to start the game, the second team offense and defense got plenty of playing time, and the scoring was shared by many. Buchanan scored, Clancy scored twice, Benson scored, Hooks scored twice, and Trader scored (but probably not how you think), and I’m missing another, but if you weren’t watching closely, you’d miss it, the scoring happened so often.
Defensively, Jeske had his usual standout game. The defensive line led by Collins and Jadron stifled every run Corliss attempted. Platt had an interception, and was 8 for 8 kicking extra points. Gruben had an interception and ran it in for a TD, but the TD was nullified with a block in the back penalty.
No matter. . . , sophomore Joe Benson touched the ball for the first time as a Varsity runner and sprinted 41 yards for the TD.
If you can’t tell already, everyone was in on the scoring party in this one.
Corliss’ punting game was a comedy of errors, resulting in bounced balls back to the punter, as well as several snaps over the punters head.
Catholic led 21-0 with 13 seconds left in the first quarter when Corliss got their first, first down..
With 8 minutes left in the half it was 35-0 JCA after another Clancy touchdown, put the game out of reach if it wasn’t already.
After a Corliss botched punt, Hooks scored from the 3 making it 42-0 with 5:30 left in the half.
Sophomore Luke Mussleman replaced Brad Bourg at QB shortly before halftime, and would play the rest of the game.
Catholic pinned Corliss again, and this time the punt snap sailed over the head of the punter for a safety. 44-0 JCA with 2 minutes left in the half.
Hooks on another 20 yard TD run on 4th and 3, making it 51-0 with 4:26 in the third quarter.
Corliss returned the ensuing kickoff for a TD and added the 2 point conversion, making it 51-8
Never let it be said that an intense defensive player can’t play offense. Jake Trader had a 30 yard TD run from the fullback spot, also on his first carry of the year. With 40 seconds left in the third quarter it was JCA 58-8.
With 11 minutes left in the game, Corliss got their second first down of the game.
Corliss drove from the 50 after a JCA botched snap and drove to the 20 yard line with 50 seconds left against the second team defense, but was forced to turn the ball over on downs. JCA held at that was the game 58-8.
Coach Sharp was pleased with Bourg’s play during the game. “We were only going to play Brad two series, and Billy got speared in the back and left the game with back spasms, (he did not return as a precautionary measure). Billy isn’t serious, it just spasmed on him, but he couldn’t come back so, Brad got a little longer than we anticipated. Brad got a couple hits and bounced up, I figure he’s about 90% right now.
“That’s such a big positive for our program to see him run the offense like he did in the first quarter. Brad was helped out by our offensive line that played tremendously well, the blocking from the running backs, and you had a chance to see some of the other kids coming up. We’ve got some good young backs and some good linemen.”
“Watching Chris Jeske play tonight, he was just phenomenal, he was all over the field. It was a good primer for the rest of the playoffs.”
I asked if the bit of a limp Bourg had was stiffness, Coach Sharp said “It’s stiffness, it’s nothing to do with the bone, but it’s just time to get it mobile again, since it hasn’t been used. He’s much better tonight since last Monday, he’s improved 90% since the week started. By next week he could be near 100%. It was great to see him out here doing the things he did, his leadership lifts the whole team.”
“Our depth now is really good at our skill positions.”
Big game by Kevin Platt - Is Kevin Platt the secret weapon they’ve been hiding all year? Coach Sharp started laughing; “One day, it must have been week three, he was screwing around kicking field goals, and he said ‘Hey Coach watch this’, and he hits a 45 yard field goal, and then another one. So we’ve been working with him and when he has a smooth stroke going he can be a nice kicker for us. Nate is our regular kicker, but he has mono and couldn’t go tonight, so Platt stepped right in.”
The team played well, Corliss gave it their all tonight, they never quit and you have to hand it to them for that.”
“We found some things that might help us down the road. Look at Jake Trader in the fullback spot (41 yard run for a TD). We were able to work on things this week that we weren’t as conference play was ending. We can really put together some nice packages of personnel with the sophomores up for the rest of the playoffs.”
“When Trader kicks out his man . . . wow it’s like Kleeman all over again, twin fullbacks that can do that, that’s impressive.”
“Buchanan worked as a wide out early in the game, which will give teams something else to think about. The scouts will have to determine how they’re going to defend us, and that’s the best part of tonight’s game.”
“Benson had a nice run, all the backs had good runs, Hrvatin, Hooks, Sallese worked a little at fullback. After tonight, I feel we have a nice package of players, and what a great future we have with these young kids delivering in a playoff game. It’s great experience for them.”
The impressive win was expected, lets face it. However, the impressive play by the underclassmen may have surprised many that attended the game. Coach Sharp wasn’t misleading anyone when he commented on the underclassmen last week. “This may be the best class that’s ever come through JCA.” Benson, Hrvatin, Owens, Mussleman, Barney, McKeon are all sophomores. Clancy, Brown, Kiernan, Eastman, Jeske, Platt, Jackson, Hibler and more are only juniors. This team is loaded folks. If they can get 100% healthy before the quarterfinals, look out.
With the additional skill position players that Coach Sharp has, there are many things that he can do now, that he couldn’t three weeks ago because of the increased depth.
The Hilltopper’s roll on, but then, it is our favorite time of year.
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