Lally, Marmion run away with 6th straight win
T.J. Lally rushed for 4 touchdowns and Marmion beat Lincoln-Way West 45-35 in a nonconference football game in New Lenox on Friday.
The victory assured the Cadets, who are enjoying their best start since 1998, a berth into the playoffs.
It wasn't the most pretty of victories, but Marmion coach Dan Thorpe was happy to take it, especially with quarterback Will Sterne sidelined with a knee injury and with Nick Scoliere, Alex Karas and Adam Andras all getting banged up a bit on Friday.
"It was an ugly victory tonight but I'm proud of the guys," Thorpe said. "Obviously we can't let people score 35 on us and come back like that, but you have to understand the circumstances. We gave a lot of people playing time and stuff."
Marmion (6-1) dominated the opening half, holding the Warriors to only 1 rushing yard, 2 first downs and 54 yards of total offense in taking a 34-7 lead.
Starting strong, the Cadets used 10 plays on the game's opening drive before Lally blasted in for a 1-yard score. Then, the Marmion defense recovered a fumble on the Warriors first play from scrimmage to set up Lally for another 1-yard score.
Lincoln-Way West (1-6) scored for the first time since Sept. 19 to make it a 13-7 contest, but the Cadets responded with 3 more touchdowns before intermission. Lally (8 carries, 128 yards) had a 40-yard run, Bobby Winkel (11 carries, 102 yards) took one in from 18 yards out, and as time expired in the half, Bobby Peters connected up the middle on a 11-yard strike to Phil Kloc.
"The first half, I was very impressed with how we came out," Thorpe said. "We got opportunities and took advantage of what they gave us."
Rotating Cadets in and out of the lineup in the second half, combined with a tremendously efficient passing game from Butterfield (18-of-21, 227 yards) kept the game close.
It also made Lally, who was on the sideline, a bit restless. After seeing the Cadets offense only produce a field goal while the Warriors found the end zone on 3 occasions to make it a 37-27 contest, Lally got his number called and delivered. The junior blasted up the middle and off a pair of defenders until he found smooth sailing for the 55-yard score with just 4:35 left in the contest.
"Players were doing a good job but I wanted to get back out there," Lally said. "You have to credit the offensive line. We have a very cohesive group and they made a nice hole, I cut back and it was pretty open from there."