Close call, but St. Viator falls short
JOLIET - St. Viator came up a bit short in its upset bid against Joliet Catholic on Friday.
The Lions led by a field goal heading into the fourth quarter, but finally succumbed to the Hilltoppers and their running game 28-24.
"I am really proud of our guys," St. Viator coach Brandon New said. "To beat a great program it takes most things going right, if not all. We made some mistakes and I think those mistakes contributed to us losing."
The Lions (2-2, 1-1) kept Joliet Catholic's powerful running game in neutral for most of the way. The great effort from St. Viator defenders Luke Fulton, Collin Rustay, Ben Dickey, Oliver Perry, Tom Durkin and Ben Dietz had the Hilltoppers had under 100 yards rushing until late in the third quarter.
"I thought we played hard and game-planned well," Fulton said. "But down the stretch they found a few holes in our defense and we weren't able to adjust."
While the defense was keeping Joliet Catholic (3-1,2-0) at bay, the Lions' offense was firing on both cylinders with the passing of Tyler Johnston (27-of-48, 344 yards) and the running of Joey McIntyre (24 carries, 93 yards).
The Lions scored on their first possession, with Johnston throwing a 28-yard touchdown pass to Sal Canella (8 receptions, 113 yards).
Joliet Catholic scored just before the end of the first quarter and was able to tally another touchdown on the second play of the second quarter to lead 13-7.
The Lions then regained their form, thanks to the play of receiver Matt Darling (6 receptions, 99 yards).
Darling hauled in a 36-yard pass to bring the ball to the Hilltoppers 11. But the play would prove costly as Darling injured his left ankle and did not return.
McIntyre evened the score at 13 with his 2-yard touchdown run just two plays later. And when Michael Fitzpatrick made the conversion, it gave the Lions a 14-13 lead into halftime.
The Lions' sideline began to get worked into a frenzy in the third quarter.
With Darling sidelined, his best friend Ben Dickey began to pick up the slack on the the receiving end. Catching a quick screen pass on the right side, Dickey hauled the ball down to the 10-yard line, and McIntyre crashed over the goal line on the next play to make it 21-13 with 7:01 left in the third quarter.
That's when Joliet Catholic finally found its offense.
Led by running back Nick Borgra, the Hilltoppers mounted a 4-play, 70 yard drive that was capped by Borgra's 33- yard run. JCA then threw a conversion pass to close to 24-21 just before the end of the third quarter.
Borgra, who had 81 yards on his first 16 carries, got his running game in full gear. He finished with 188 yards on 24 carries. His 12-yard touchdown run on a third-and-9 put the Hilltoppers up 28-24 with 9:33 to play.
Despite being on their heels, St. Viator was able to respond.
The Lions drove to the Hilltopper 17. Dickey then caught another screen pass, this one on the Joliet sideline. He darted to middle of the field and scored an apparent touchdown. But the official on the Joliet sideline called holding on the Lions.
St. Viator came up short on that series when Johnston's pass in the end zone was deflected away.
The Lions had one last chance, driving to the Joliet 40 with 50 seconds to play. But on fourth down, Johnston was intercepted to end the game.
"We came out here and played a lot harder than we ever have," Johnston said. "We just weren't able to get them this year."
Dickey, who had caught just one pass before the injury to Darling, finished with 11 receptions for 122 yards.
"That's my best friend," Dickey said. "It has been me and him for the last two years. It was hard to see him go down and I knew I had to step up my play."
Despite a 26th consecutive loss to Joliet Catholic, New likes the direction his program is taking.
"The hardest thing to do is win," New said. "Once you start winning, the hardest thing to do is lose, because it is the confidence that you have. We are still on that road."