Sacred Heart Griffin tops Montini 28-14
The end came Sunday for one of the state's top football openers, the eight-year series between Montini and Sacred Heart Griffin.
Running behind a line that graduated only one starter from last year's Class 6A state championship squad, Griffin running back Greg Wilson carried 27 times for 153 yards with touchdown runs of 17 and 5 yards to pace the Cyclones' 28-14 victory at Benedictine University in Lisle.
"I knew that (the line) would be our strength offensively and defensively," said Griffin coach Ken Leonard, who joined fellow Hall of Fame coach Chris Andriano and both teams for a postgame pep talk and prayer after the Cyclones snapped the Broncos' two-game winning streak to take the series 6-2.
"We just took what they gave us," Leonard said. "We thought we were going to be a pretty good run team. We can throw the ball, too."
Andriano had felt his team's top challenge was on the line, where the Broncos return one starter on either side, defensive tackle Ross Ferraro.
"We've got to play more physical upfront. They beat us up front. That was the most important thing," said Andriano, whose team was outgained 385 yards to 188.
Manning Montini's spread offense, 6-foot-6 Brandon Pechloff drew first blood. The senior quarterback was 4 of 6 passing on the Broncos' first possession and capped a 64-yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Westerkamp at 9:06 of the first quarter. Matt Kersten's kick gave Montini the 7-0 lead.
"We should have utilized the seams a little more," said Pechloff, 12 of 27 passing for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns. "Everyone, as they did today, they're going to blitz the linebackers. They're going to blitz everyone they can to get to me, because if they give me time we're going to cause some serious damage."
Griffin's offense, especially as time ensued, consisted mainly of Wilson up the middle behind a line that averaged 229 pounds, and outside keepers by quarterback Eric Williamson, who ran for 80 yards and threw for 144.
Headed by linebackers Zech Tredenick and Alex Walters, Montini's defense allowed a 28-yard John McDermott field goal at 4:27 of the first quarter.
Griffin failed to convert the next time out but went up 10-7 at 5:51 of the second quarter on Wilson's 17-yard touchdown run after ill-timed Montini penalties helped extend the series.
The killer came on the ensuing kickoff. Cyclones kicker McDermott recovered a Broncos fumble at the Montini 21. Shortly thereafter 240-pound fullback Darryl McMath blasted 3 yards for a touchdown. McDermott's kick gave Sacred Heart a 17-7 lead with 2:33 left in the first half.
Not done yet, Griffin forced a punt, drew a pass-interference call to enter the red zone, and McDermott nailed a 32-yard field goal as time expired for a 20-7 Cyclones first-half lead.
"I think we beat ourselves," said Montini senior two-way athlete Ryan Gorrell. "We were playing with this team the whole first quarter. It was penalties that killed us, penalties and turnovers."
Griffin put Montini in a bind to open the third quarter. The Cyclones marched 80 yards in 16 plays over 8:04 to score on Wilson's 5-yard touchdown run.
The Broncos, who next year open against vaunted Joliet Catholic, managed a 19-yard Pechloff touchdown pass to Anthony Taylor with 2:32 left in the third quarter and ran only one full possession thereafter.
"I think we can bounce back, have a really successful season," said Gorrell, who ran for a team-high 53 yards.
"I mean, 2004 we got killed (47-3) this first game against Sacred Heart and we came back undefeated for the rest of the season and won state. I think we could do it again."