Benet wallops Marian Catholic

Mother Nature did neither team any favors Friday night. However, it was Benet that adjusted to the wet field conditions and eventually came out on top.

Host Marian Catholic (1-5, 0-4) kept the football game close through midway into the second quarter, but Benet (5-1, 5-0) proved to be too much for the Spartans in this East Suburban Catholic Conference clash, cruising to a 56-7 victory.

"We've been having trouble getting out of the gate a little bit this season," Marian Catholic coach Sean Mele said, "but I thought we started off pretty well getting a couple first downs and moving the ball a little bit. We couldn't convert on third and one, then they blocked the punt and it was all downhill from there. I credit Benet for doing a great job, but we just have to work and continue to get better."

After the blocked punt, Benet senior running back Marty Dosen started the scoring midway through the first quarter, hitting the goal line from 6 yards out.

Dosen had a big day for the Redwings with 168 yards and 3 touchdowns on 18 carries.

"Every game in this conference is going to be a battle so we came in here ready to play. We had our offense clicking, our defense did their thing and it was just good to come in here and get a victory," Dosen said.

After holding a 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, Benet exploded to the tune of 28 second-quarter points.

Senior quarterback Jack Sznajder started the second quarter touchdown brigade by calling his own number and punching it in from 1 yard out. It seemed like it was all over for Marian until senior quarterback and University of Illinois commit Cam Thomas connected with senior wide receiver Joe Stith on an 87-yard catch and run for Marian reducing the deficit to 14-7 Benet and giving the Spartans some life.

Marian's momentum was short-lived as Sznajder hooked up with junior wide receiver Nick Keyes on a 27 yard touchdown pass on the following drive. That score made it 21-7 Benet, a deficit that Marian could not play out of.

Despite the rain Benet's offense looked unstoppable at times this game and ultimately ran away with the 56-7 victory.

"I was happy that our offense clicked tonight; we've been improving every week." Benet coach Pat New said. "Moving forward, our goal is to win an ESCC championship. We're still in the hunt for that and are really focused on that right now."