Montini-Marian Central rematch will be nothing like 1st game
Remember Montini's 33-0 win over Marian Central in Week 7?
Forget it.
The Suburban Catholic Conference powers, who ended the regular season Nos. 2 and 4 in Class 5A, aren't banking on a one-sided affair in their third postseason meeting in four years.
On Oct. 5 No. 2 seed Montini (9-1) capitalized on a halfback pass, a blocked punt and 4 Marian turnovers.
Now, both are primed for a defensive battle of field position and special teams.
"I think those two things are really going to play a factor into who's going to able to get some points," said Montini coach Chris Andriano. "I think it's going to be tougher than people think."
Montini, which lost to Driscoll in Week 9 despite giving up just 1 touchdown, last week continued the strong defensive play that's allowed just 67 points.
The Broncos bent -- Sycamore passed for 218 yards -- but didn't break in their 14-3 win.
Offensively, they gave 220-pound running back Dex Jones 15 carries, on which he gained 206 yards with a 90-yard touchdown run.
Johnny Borsellino, who hit Marian with a halfback pass to Sal Mazzulla for a touchdown, ran for 93 yards.
The down side last week was 10 momentum-stopping penalties.
"We needed to be able to run the ball, quite simply," Andriano said, a week after Driscoll ruined Tom DiCristina's perimeter passing and the Broncos never countered.
This week they'll need to run, pass and stop the pass.
Marian quarterback Jon Budmayr was still nursing a pulled hamstring when the Hurricanes first met Montini.
His return has No. 7 seed Marian (8-2) revamped and confident at both quarterback and receiver, with Andrew Stochl back at receiver after serving as Budmayr's understudy.
The proof was in Marian's 46-27 playoff-opening win over Sterling. Budmayr threw for more than 400 yards, more than balancing Doug Simpson's running game.
"Really, about everything worked," said Hurricanes coach Ed Brucker.
Saturday in Lombard, much of what these teams do won't work.
"Whichever team is able to execute," Andriano said, "that's the team that's going to advance."