Scouting Montini @ Marmion

By Dave Oberhelman

Montini (5-3, 1-2)

at Marmion (7-1, 3-0)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. today

Last year: Montini 14, Marmion 8.

Last week: Montini 42, Wheaton Academy 27; Marmion 23, Chicago Christian 20.

Outlook: No playoff questions here - Montini's 44 playoff points are a postseason lock even with a fourth loss, and Marmion is the Suburban Christian Conference Blue representative. Still, these quality teams both want to enter the playoffs with momentum. Plus a Marmion loss on senior night could drop the Cadets into a first-place Blue tie with 3-1 Marian Central, though it would still give the Cadets their first conference title since 1998. Montini may be without a major offensive weapon. Sophomore receiver Jordan Westerkamp, who has 11 touchdown catches and averages 26.3 yards a catch, is questionable after spraining a knee early against Wheaton Academy. Nick Campanella responded with 7 catches for 141 yards and touchdowns of 37, 55 and 22 yards. Fellow senior Ryan Gorrell added 167 yards rushing on 9 carries. Marmion's defense, led by linebackers Bobby Winkel and T.J. Lally - the 205-pound junior has been on fire, with 13 solo tackles and 7 assists last week, plus the winning touchdown run - is tougher than that of Wheaton Academy. Montini offensive linemen Rob Piper, Pat Suffield, Nick Esposito, Tom Dybsky and Mac Robinson will be charged with protecting Broncos quarterback Brandon Pechloff, whose 27 touchdown passes are the program record. As Pechloff goes, so go the Broncos. "I think confidence is going to be a big factor for us early in the game, and hopefully we can match their intensity," said Montini coach Chris Andriano. Montini is 4-0 against Marmion in Cadets coach Dan Thorpe's tenure, and the Cadets have been held to 8 points total the last three seasons since a 28-21 loss in 2005. Even with another night of anticipated poor weather, this shouldn't be one-sided. Lally and Winkel have run for 485 and 437 yards, respectively, and along with Nick Scoliere and Alex Karas, bring the biggest defensive stats. Typically Montini may have been more physical at the point of attack, but not with these Cadets, who will continue to hone the passing game of Bobby Peters with Will Sterne (knee) out for the season. Peters hit Matt Pircon on a 55-yard touchdown against Chicago Christian, and a 30-yard pass to Scoliere on the game-winning drive. Sustaining drives without turnovers is Thorpe's key tonight. "We've got to play 48 minutes," he said. "Even if you've got a three-touchdown lead it won't matter. Montini has the mentality that they're never out of it, and with their explosive offense they can come back."