Improvements across the board for Montini, Benet
Week 2 was nothing like Week 1 for Montini and Benet.
Montini required a defensive stand to earn a win, not a 20-point rally.
Benet, outmanned a week ago, on Saturday held the Broncos 430 yards under their jackpot opener.
Montini's 14-6 nonconference win in Lombard was a football game both teams could take pride in.
"We got pushed to the absolute limit today, and I'm glad to see that we stepped up again, late, this time on defense. We're finding ways, and that's the sign of a winner," said Montini coach Chris Andriano.
Trying to shake up a scoreless second half, Benet (0-2) lined up first-and-goal at Montini's 6-yard line just inside of seven minutes to play. The Broncos denied three Jimmy Riley passes and linebacker Nick Erlenbaugh stuffed an off-tackle run to hold the Redwings at bay.
"It was just awesome," said Erlenbaugh, joining defensive back Luke Furjanic in the big-play club. "It was all heart right there."
"That was kind of painful. I'm really mad that we didn't get that one in," said Riley. Despite too many dropped passes he noted Benet improved "immensely."
Coach Gary Goforth agreed: "If we can improve that much next week, we'll be OK. I like what the kids did.
"We had opportunities and didn't capitalize on them. Our energy was there, I'm proud of the kids for that."
Tight defense by such Redwings as T.J. Milano, Ryan Mitchell, Victor Sadauskas and Nic Zavala made Montini's opportunities few.
Benet (0-2) took a 6-0 lead at 9:27 of the second quarter, Phil Schmidt's diving 16-yard catch setting up a 2-yard touchdown pass. The shotgun snap was bobbled but Riley had the composure to find Neil Ostrander standing by himself in the end zone.
Montini immediately countered. Quarterback Tom DiCristina led the Broncos 64 yards in 11 plays to score on a 4-yard pass, a one-handed grab by Brendan Shannon. Matt Kersten's kick gave Montini a 7-6 lead with 4:42 before halftime.
Kevin Loveless' sack helped force a Benet punt, then DiCristina helped his own cause on a 19-yard reception from pinch-quarterback Brandon Pechloff.
DiCristina returned to man the shotgun. Pressured, he chucked the game-winning 29-yard pass to Grant Goebel deep into the end zone, 52.3 seconds left in the half.
Both players said this mini-Hail Mary was designed.
"We set it up in the first quarter and we were waiting to hit them with it," said DiCristina, who threw the football where only the 6-foot-3 Goebel could get it.
How high?
"I couldn't really tell," Goebel said. "I was caught up in the moment."