By Ed Muniz-Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill
**Additional Photos are available for purchase on home page in photos.**
Friday Night Lights was on the menu in LaGrange Park on September 9.
The featured entrée of week 3 IHSA football season was a clash between the 8th ranked 8A Marist Redhawks (2-1) visiting the top Ranked 5A Nazareth Roadrunners (1-2).
The youth of the host Roadrunners was hopeful of competing with the size and depth of the visiting RedHawks heading into their matchup at home.
With an early barrage of points, and a stifling defense, Marist would head home with a 31-3 victory.
Big in the middle for the RedHawks defensively were Seniors’ Jamel Howard and Matteo Filippo.
Howard is considered the team stud defensively, he is an aggressive, quick-footed pursuer with size and speed that filled gaps and breaks through often. He was a difficult task for Nazareth.
Unheralded Matteo Filippo isn’t getting the attention he deserves. He was mobile and a solid run-stopper for the Marist defense. His ability to move sideline-to-sideline made the run game for the Roadrunners difficult at best..
The under-sized Roadrunners were immediately on notice as the Redhawks scored on their first possession.
The arm and accuracy of Marist Quarterback’ Dermot Smyth combining with receiver Ryan Sims, provided the opening-series yardage, which concluded in the endzone after connecting with running-back’ Scottie Rybak from 19 yards out.
Just two and a half minutes in, the Redhawks led 7-0 after the conversion kick from Kamil Kokot.
Nazareth would use the elusive skills of sophomore Quarterback Logan Malachuk and his arm to move the ball the first time they went on offense.
Under heavy pursuit, Malachuk would move the pocket and create space, giving him time to look up-field for a receiver. He would continue that much of the game, occasionally taking huge hits from the Marist defenders.
His ability to bounce back up every time gave his teammates hope they could compete, which they did.
A young team will make mistakes, and in this game, there were some that were out of Malachuks’ control. Accurate passes bounced off his receivers’ hands or were simply unable to make the play on catchable balls.
Forcing a punt, Marist was knocking on the door again after Mike Donegan returned the Nazareth punt 37-yards.
Smyth completed a couple passes, moving his team nearer to the end zone at the Nazareth 5-yard-line. Handing off to Chris Lofgren, he ran up the middle for the Redhawks second score. Kokot added the kick and Marist led 14-0.
Following the Marist touchdown, a Malachuk pass was deflected and found the arms of defensive-back’ Jake Stefanos. The Interception gave the visitors another opportunity to add to the lead.
With the short field, Marist didn’t take long to extend its lead. After a 27-yard reception from Smyth to Sims, the Redhawks would be forced to settle for a field goal.
Led by freshman Lesroy Tittle, the Nazareth defense stood firm and was determined to prevent another touchdown. Tackles by James Penley and Tittle, plus a sack for loss by Luke Holstrom, forced the Marist field-goal try from 29-yards out that was made by KoKot.
The 17-0 lead stood after one quarter of play.
Nazareth defense was now playing much stingier. Tittle, Alex Carrillo, Penley, Ethan Enriquez and Brendan Flanagan kept the Marist offense in check forcing a couple punts.
Marist second quarter play was nothing like its first quarter. Plays were slow to develop, and mistakes were now showing up. The flow of their offense had change which seem to give the younger, smaller host some confidence.
The faltering Marist offense was picked up by the dominant Marist defense. Led by the continued onslaught of John Nestor, you could swear there were multiples of him out there.
Nestor was a “Man on a Mission” making several tackles and assisting on others.
“Its just how I play, I like to hit, I’m aggressive and disciplined, that’s how I make my plays but around here it’s about the team,” said Nestor. “My team puts me in the situation to make the tackle. I’ve been playing football my whole life, yeah quick reads, it’s easy to read for me now.”
A sack by Ethan Scheel forced the Roadrunners to punt again.
The ensuing Marist drive again produced points. With a 1:43 left in the half, a Nazareth punt didn’t go far and again gave Marist a short field. Quickly at the home 10-yard-line, Smyth handed off to Marc Coy, who bounced outside and sprinted 10-yards for the touchdown and a 24-0 lead after Kokot point after.
Nazareth offense found a quick rhythm in the last 1:30 of the first half. Malachuk was using his feet and his arm to quickly move the Roadrunners down-field. Several quick pass completions and a big run by himself moved the ball to the Marist 7-yard-line.
A perfect pass that went through the hands of his receiver in the endzone left points off the board. Resulting in a 24-yard field-goal by Andrew Fowler which finished the first half at 24-3
Nazareth youth was learning as the game went to the second half. They continued to throw and saw Malachuk display his elusiveness but for all his successes, it didn’t provide points against the relentless Marist defense.
Marist was sitting on a lead that would never be threaten. Just too strong defensively, the Redhawks limited the Roadrunners much of the second half.
Tackles and sacks were abundant now for Marist. Knowing Nazareth would go to the air made it easier.
Duke White and Jake Stefanos led the second half Marist defense. White made a nice snag of a Malachuk pass for the interception in the third quarter while also making several tackles. Stefanos grabbed his second interception of the game, this time ending the Nazareth drive with a pick in the end-zone. He also was in assisting on several tackles.
Marist added a fourth quarter score. The Smyth to Mike Donegan connection went 46-yards after breaking a tackle. Donegan hit the near sideline and streaked into the endzone. For the 31-3 lead.
Having a near 300-pound lineman will help any offense. Marist has just that at center. John Hackett is a big, mobile piece to the success of the Redhawk offense. All game he would get the snap off and then look for his block with force.
“I started to be more physical off my blocks and I think it kinda helped, plus seeing the whole field at one time,” said Hackett.
“I think about the play a little bit in the huddle but once I get to the line, its kinda robotic at that point. The coaches here have really helped me out each week to improve as well.”
Marist quarterback Dermot Smyth is a converted wide receiver from last year, in this game, you wouldn’t know it from the level he played at. He directed the offense like a veteran and displayed the ability to pass and run as needed.
“I feel I’m able to read the defense pretty well and know what I got to do each play,” said Smyth. “The line was blocking really well today, made it easier to get plays off. I trust the O-line and trust the receivers to get open. I had some mental errors that I need to clean up but their defense played well too.”
The play by Nazareth was one of guts. They gave their all and showed signs of growth during the game. Facing a much bigger foe, the Roadrunners never gave in or gave up and battled hard as the game progressed.
The young Roadrunners gave an admirable effort and will certainly be a factor come seasons end in the 5A playoffs. They just need a little more seasoning for the taste of success to be savored.
As the season moves on, the young Logan Malchuk will gain more experience and fine tune his talents as will his teammates.
“I like to throw first, probably the most I’ve thrown in a game. That was our game plan and what we thought was the best way for us to win. We didn’t score today, but we drove down the field and made a lot of plays and now its just a matter of execution; little things like penalties we can fix, we’ll be good.
Marist has lots of talented players and size that will make them a team to be reckoned with. Being offensively consistent throughout the game may be their slightest flaw.
Next up for Marist is a trip to Mount Carmel a highly anticipated game. For Nazareth, they will host Niles-Notre Dame next.
