WW South muddies Joliet Catholic's reputation
You half expected to see leather helmets.
It was that kind of night at Joliet Memorial Stadium, where the muddy field looked more like the Indiana Dunes and the teams turned back the clock to old school rock 'em, sock 'em football.
Tradition - under the banner of 18 combined state titles - took center stage.
In a clash between two of the state's most storied programs, Wheaton Warrenville South showed stunning dominance in a 31-6 victory over Joliet Catholic.
"Coach (Ron) Muhitch talked about this all week, saying we've beaten them three straight and we weren't going to lose tonight," said Tigers defensive back Jeff Roadman, referring to three playoff victories, including in the 1992 Class 5A title game - the first of the program's five titles.
"It's one of the best programs in the state, 13 state titles," he said of JCA. "I'm extremely proud of how we played."
Thursday's pounding rain occurred at the same time the University of St. Francis played at Memorial Stadium, wreaking havoc on that poor field that used to have grass.
The host school tried to get the field as playable as possible for Friday, rolling in a huge amount of sand through the hardest-hit sections.
It was no easy sledding, a fact that concerned Tigers coach Ron Muhitch as his speedy team faced a power-running Joliet Catholic crew.
WW South (2-0), however, was the team that thrived - thanks in part to the mothers of Todd Lorenzini and Chris Kritsas, who hustled on Friday to buy dozens of sets of three-quarter-inch spikes for the players.
Taking a 10-6 lead to the half following a lightning-quick two-minute drive and a last-second 25-yard field goal by Nick Immekus, the Tigers added 21 unanswered third-quarter points to seize command.
Quarterback Joe Furco, who completed 9 of 14 attempts for 152 yards, threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Mike Olp and a 28-yard touchdown pass to Mack Tracey.
Furco set up the first score with a 31-yard keeper, while a fumble recovery by Pat Dansdill set up the second touchdown. On the next play from scrimmage Roadman added the final touch to the scoreboard with a 30-yard interception return into the end zone.
"All week long coach was saying it was going to be power against speed," Furco said. "We were a little bit worried that coming out here on this muddy field might take away from our speed and help their power out. But it ended up working out for us."
Joliet Catholic (0-2) rushed for 159 yards, led by 82 from Tyler Hudetz, but its lack of a passing game thwarted any hope for a comeback. The Tigers defense limited the Hilltoppers to 1-of-6 passing for 14 yards and Roadman's pick.
Still, JCA took a 6-0 lead early in the second quarter on Calvin Smith's 41-yard run. The Tigers answered later in the quarter when Peter Jarrett's 30-yard reception led to his 1-yard touchdown burst.
The Tigers held the Hilltoppers to 42 yards of offense in the second half while forcing 3 turnovers.
It was a near-perfect effort by the Tigers on a night when the playing conditions were far less than that. Most important, the Tigers upheld their tradition of beating Joliet Catholic - even without the leather helmets.
"It felt like old school, back in the old days, going through and sloshing for every yard," lineman Todd Lorenzini said. "It was a lot of fun out there."