St. Viator slips up as Marist slides to win

Mother Nature must be a fan of the running game.

With both St. Viator's and Marist's high-flying aerial attacks shut down for the most part by rain and a sloppy field, it was the Redhawks who were more successful in a game that turned into a 3-yards-and-a-spray-of-mud affair.

Marist completed only 5 passes all night, 2 for touchdowns, but rushed 42 times for 228 yards and two more scores in a 28-10 victory over Viator at soggy Forest View in Arlington Heights.

The Lions, hurt by turnovers and Marist big plays, mustered only 179 yards of total offense.

"This was a big game, and we shot ourselves in the foot," said St. Viator quarterback Julian Sipiora, who threw for 100 yards but finished only 12-for-27 against a staunch Marist defense. "We made some key mistakes. Both teams were able to run the ball and move the chains, but they made the bigger plays."

'We were ecstatic after last week's game (a 31-28 loss to perennial power Joliet Catholic), because we proved we could play with the best - but we were also disappointed that we didn't get the win."

Viator led at halftime 10-7 behind a Richard McLoughlin TD catch and a John Sandmeier field goal, and the Lions were poised to add to the lead in third quarter when they marched to the Marist 15-yard line.

But a Viator fumble followed by an 88-yard run from scrimmage by Marist halfback McKinley Moore (156 yards rushing) led to a Redhawks score.

Then the Redhawks recovered an onside kick and marched in for another TD to take a 21-10 third-quarter lead.

"That was a great call by them," said Viator coach Chris Kirkpatrick of the kickoff surprise. "They basically pooched the ball over our front line. You've got to give them credit."

Viator, led by McLoughlin's 6 catches for 90 yards, was able to march into Marist territory in the fourth quarter but couldn't find the end zone.

Sipiora and Joseph Yruegas both rushed for 32 yards to lead Viator, while linebacker Michael Krzoska recorded a first-half interception for the Lions.

"They played well," said Kirkpatrick of Marist. "That fumble of ours turned into a 14-point swing, and we missed some tackles on their ensuing drive."

"We've got to really get after it in practice now," added Sipiora. 'We've got to show more intensity and get prepared to win.'