| Defense sets the tone in Hilltopper romp |
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Mike Menozzi JolietCatholicFootball.com
Homecoming weekend at Benet, the weather was absolutely perfect, walking through the make-shift parking lot headed into the game the smell of brats and burgers cooking made it tempting to stay outside and enjoy the day with some food and friends.
On the way into the game one of the tailgaters had an old Ted Nugent song playing, “Stranglehold”, from 1974 I believe. You might say the Hilltopper defense would have been inspired by it, if they could have heard it.
After battling a fired up Benet team throughout the first half, the sleeping giant awoke in the second half and it was lights out for Benet in a matter of minutes.
Catholic received the ball first and tried for the homerun ball to Eastman who appeared to make a circus catch at the 50, but the officials ruled it incomplete after some uncertainty. The Hilltoppers failed to get a first down on the first series, and Kiernan punted to Benet who took over on their 47.
A run for 3 and a pass for 17, took the ball to Catholic’s 33, a sack by Jeske set up a 3rd and 10. Benets’ QB LeFevour was forced out of the pocket and ran for a first down.
Benet drove to the JCA 16 and attempted a field goal that was way wide left, Catholic took over on downs.
After a motion call, Clancy ran for 9, Benson got 2, and McKeon 15 on a 3rd and 4.
Benson ran for 15, after a short run by McKeon he caught a pass for 14 to the Benet 32. Clancy powers for 7, and an inside reverse to Clancy put the ball just inside the 10.
McKeon ran to the 6, it was 3rd and 6, Clancy powers to the 1. The Redwing fans jumped to their feet to inspire the Benet defense to stop the Hillmen 4th down attempt at the one. It didn’t work – Clancy went in and Platt added the extra for a 7-0 Hillmen lead with 2:22 left in the 1st quarter.
After the kickoff Benet faced another 3rd and 7 from the 40 after a sack by Hooks and Jeske. But LeFevour hit Johnson at the Hilltopper 15, and it was the end of the quarter.
A inside slant pattern and Benet tied the score from 15 yards out.
Eastman tee-ed up the offense by taking the kickoff out to the Benet 47. After an incomplete pass to McKeon, Benson took the handoff from Kiernan and went 43 yards down the left sideline for a TD, making it 14-7
After a Gurka sack, Bobby Craven picked off LeFevour. McKeon ran for 8 and Clancy followed that for 5 bringing the ball to the 50. A motion penalty set the Hillmen back, but after a McKeon run, Kiernan kept it for a first down.
A Clancy run took it to the 21, but a John Kiernan pass was intercepted at the goal line and Benet ran it back to their own 9 yard line with a little less than 5 minutes left in the half.
The Redwings dodged a bullet and they knew it. Wanting to take advantage of the situation, a pass by LeFevour moved Benet up to the 37.
With 2:11 left Benet took a time out at the 50, after a Metzger sack. A toss in the flat took Benet to the JC 37, a pass interference call, followed by a face mask penalty, set up Benet at the 3 yard line. With 57 seconds left in the half Benet tied the score with a run in from the 1 foot line.
The Benet sidelines were pumped, a tie game at the half with the Hilltoppers at home? What could be better?
Just as quickly as the game had turned in Benet’s favor, it turned against them. Benet’s kicker booted the kickoff out of bounds giving Catholic the ball at the 35 with 57 seconds left.
The Hilltopper 2 minutes offense went to work. A pass to Eastman on the right side to the Benet 49. With the clock ticking they hurried to the line of scrimmage, Kiernan hit McKeon on the left sideline for what appeared to be a hook and ladder. McKeon kept it, Brown laid a huge block on a Benet defender for McKeon and Billy took the ball down to the 1 yard line.
Clancy went in untouched for the score with 29 seconds remaining in the half. Giving JC a 21-14 lead at halftime. It was the 4th straight game that Catholic scored in the closing seconds with the 2 minute offense just before halftime.
But Benet would get the ball first in the second half, and the Hilltopper defense hadn’t found any solutions in stopping LeFevour.
The crowds taunting of McKeon with chants of “Billy . . .Billy” were long gone. McKeon had the last laugh just before the half, and Benet had no idea how fast things were headed downhill.
In a game like this you hope you can hang around with a team like Joliet Catholic long enough to make something happen in the second half. Catholic’s defense may have gotten some good direction at the half, because boy did they come out smoking in the second half.
Former Coach Gordie Gillespie was walking the sideline taking in the Hilltoppers in person for the first time this season. Did you give them any good pointers at the half Coach? Ever the humble gentleman, Coach Gillespie said, “Oh, no – I do more listening than I do talking at this point,” he said with a laugh. If Coach Gillespie was talking, it would be foolish to not listen to a man with that much knowledge and success.
Benet took over on their 24 after receiving the kickoff. Two incomplete passes and Benet was faced with a 3 and 10. In the first half, Benet had incredible success on 3rd and long, would it continue in the second half? Not likely – junior Phil Kelly picked off Lefevour and ran it down to the Benet 4.
On the next play McKeon took it around the right side following a big block by Barrett. 28-14 with 11:24 to go in the 3rd.
On the ensuing kickoff, a big hit by Alex Duffy caused a fumble on the 20, and Jason Blatti scooped it up and rambled down the sideline to the 13. Benson finished off the drive with a 4 yard TD run making it JCA 34-14 with 10:38 left in the 3rd quarter. Platt missed only his 2nd PAT this season.
In a two minute span of time between the end of the first half and the end of the second half, Catholic had scored 3 touchdowns, 20 unanswered points. Started by the offense, and punctuated by the defensive play in the third quarter.
On their own 18, Benet was faced with a 4th and 13, after the defense stuffed them again. A bad snap to LeFevour in punt formation, created just enough broken field for a run to the first down. “We knew coming in that LeFevour was a heck of a player”, said Coach Sharp, “He’s a D1 player headed to Central Michigan next year, and he showed it today. He’s so dangerous in the open field.”
Metzger sacked LeFevour with 7:35 in the 3rd bringing up a 4th down, this time Benet punted the ball away and Catholic was back in business.
Benson took a pass from Kiernan at the Benet 22, and a 5 yard run to the 15 Jca was faced with a 4th and 4. An incomplete pass to Eastman, and the ball was turned over to Benet.
In the ensuing drive Stasko stepped up and picked off LeFevour who forced Stasko out of bounds saving a TD – albeit temporarily. The run was highlighted by a pancake block by Chris Jeske on a Benet defender. McKeon scored again on a run. 41-14 with 1:06 left in the 3rd quarter.
McKeon capped the scoring with another 55 yard run for a TD making it 48-14 with 8 seconds left in the third.
We’re 5 games into the season now and throughout this season I’ve reported on the offensive firepower the Hilltoppers have. This isn’t an “on again, off again” offense. These guys strike quickly, and repeatedly, in every game this year. I’ve never seen as much talent in the skill positions ever at Joliet Catholic, on the same team.
As talented as the offense is, it was the defense that took control of today’s game. Benet saw their game go from a 7 point difference - to a blowout in 1 quarter’s time. The third quarter saw the Hillmen score 27 unanswered points and blow the game open.
Coach Sharp substituted freely throughout the 4th quarter, Kevin Rouse, a sophomore, took over at MLB calling the defensive plays on the field while Jeske rested in the 4th.
After the game I talked to Coach Sharp about what is fast becoming a good rivalry.
What did you tell the guys at half time Coach? “We just made adjustments, Coach Mac made some great adjustments, they were giving us some wide splits, and we had to shoot those splits”.
“We weren’t putting enough pressure on them, it’s the first game that we really came up with some big turnovers, and the defense needs to play that way because of the passing games we’re seeing in the conference and in the playoffs. We need to make turnovers and make plays. Credit coaches Mac, Dean, and Deskin for identifying what we needed to change.”
“I think it was the offense that sparked us, right before the half.”
It looked like you we’re playing less read/react, and more aggressive – stepping into the passing lanes in the second half, is that right?. “Yea we weren’t allowing him to step into his passes, he’s so dangerous running and throwing, so we collapsed the pocket, and we’re able to get some good hits on him in the second half.
“We went from coverage to pressure in the second half, and it paid off. “
“We just came out and played Hillmen football in the second half, we got after it physically, we tightened things down and blitzed more. We just weren’t crisp in the first half and started the game with no sense of urgency.”
We say this every week, but another big game by Jeske today?. “He’s the heart and soul of our defense, he’s out leader, and he raised the level of play for everyone around him, like Michael Jordan did for the Bulls.”
It looked liked Jeske was playing up into the line of scrimmage more today, what can you tell us about that?. “We did some things with him to get some pressure, forcing the center to block him one on one, that’s a tough job to handle for any lineman.”
At the end of the day, the Hillmen showed why they are a team to watch this year. Offensive firepower on the ground and thru the air. Defensively, a hard hitting swarming group that can take over a game on their own. While they never trailed in the game today, they came into a hostile environment, and recovered from a very flat start to truly dominate a very talented opponent.
Benet went from feeling great about the score, and the pace of the game, to “oh, no – what the . . .?” The Hillmen woke up and flexed their muscle in the second half, will it be enough against a tougher opponent? Maybe not. But then, maybe it was a wake up call for the Hilltoppers, maybe no other opponent will witness a flat first half by the Hillmen the rest of the season.
The Sophomores won their game 42-28, defeating a previously undefeated Benet (3-0-1) coming into the game..
The Freshmen also won 15 – 14, completing the sweep and ruining some of the fun for Benet’s Homecoming.
One final note - not that's it's much of a surprise to anyone, but an accomplishment none the less. The Hillmen officially qualified for a playoff spot with today's win over Benet.
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