Fremd vs. Marist: Different styles collide
Some of the traditional high school football stereotypes will be reversed when Fremd hosts Marist in today's 6 p.m. Class 8A state quarterfinal at Hale Hildebrandt Field in Palatine.
Fremd (11-0) plays the tough, south side Catholic school-type of smashmouth football with record-setting running back Evan Wright (2,128 yards, 27 touchdowns).
"They're a tremendous program," said second-year Marist coach Pat Dunne. "Their offensive line is very big and they have a great, great running back.
"I don't know with their overall size if we've seen anybody that big. They're a very well-coached team and definitely great at what they do."
Marist (9-2) has the glitzy passing game many fans would associate with the northwest suburbs behind Western Michigan-bound quarterback Mike Perish (2,717 yards, 31 touchdowns).
"That kid can definitely throw the ball," said Fremd coach Mike Donatucci of Perish's ability to throw the ball long and short. "He's all he's cracked up to be."
The 6-foot-4 Perish has a solid crew of receivers led by 6-2 Dan Piko (67 catches, 1,070 yards, 13 TDs) and Nick Valla (45 catches, 768 yards, 7 TDs) to test Fremd's secondary. Perish has thrown for 640 yards and 6 TDs in two playoff wins - including 355 yards and 4 TDs in a first-round win over Schaumburg.
"Whatever they throw we'll be ready for," said Fremd senior safety Cameron Radis.
Perish has only been intercepted 7 times. Fremd has 14 interceptions from its secondary with 5 by Jayme Szafranski, 3 from Eric Shew, 2 each by Michael Risher and Tom Carmody and 1 apiece by Radis and Tim Scharfe.
Running back McKinley Moore (761 yards, 8 TDs) keeps defenses honest. The line anchored by lone returning starter Steve Zajack (6-0, 220 pounds) and left tackle John Sintich (6-5, 240) has left Perish well-protected to find his targets.
"They've done a real good job so far of protecting Mike," Dunne said. "They're not complacent, either. They know they have to get a lot better, especially against a great Fremd team."
Seniors John Josif (9 tackles for losses, 4 sacks) and Drew Mertes (8 TFL, 5 sacks) and junior linebacker Justin Wallace (6 TFL, 4 sacks) will try to get Perish out of his comfort zone.
"They're a great defense and a very athletic defense," Dunne said.
Fremd's big line of Notre Dame-bound Christian Lombard, who also made some big plays on defense last week, Mike Rumps, Mike Metzen, Brian Bobek, Evan Schaeffer and Jack Konopka has pounded open holes for Wright all season.
That will be the big challenge for Marist's defense led by middle linebacker Anthony Szul, lineman Vince Maida, free safety Taylor Ventress and cornerback Dave Pirkle.
"They had problems against teams that run," Donatucci said of the Redhawks' losses to Carmel and St. Patrick.
"That has to bode well for us."
Wright finished the Naperville North first-round win and opened last week's win over Lake Park at quarterback in the wildcat formation.
"When Evan's in the backfield he can throw the ball," Donatucci said. "He just hasn't got all the weapons in it yet."
But junior Rich Concialdi, who started 9 games and has thrown for 1,016 yards and 5 TDs, came in last week to throw touchdown passes to Josh Jyawook and Jeff Diegel.
And whatever it takes, Fremd hopes this is the year it makes the breakthrough to the semifinals after it was stopped in the quarterfinals in 1996, 2006 and 2007.
"I really think there is a different feeling," Radis said. "With the chemistry on this team and everybody is so close and has the same passion to go downstate."