Scouting Montini at Joliet Catholic
Montini at Joliet Catholic
Game time: 7:30 p.m. today, Joliet Memorial Stadium.
Last year: Montini 29, Joliet Catholic 28 (Class 5A championship).
Outlook: Doesn't it always seem that the baseball player who makes the fantastic stop is first to come to the plate? That player is Montini, whose 83-yard touchdown drive and game-winning 2-point conversion with 32 seconds left to beat these Hilltoppers in last year's Class 5A title game was the stuff of legend. Now Joliet Catholic, a 13-time state champ, welcomes the Broncos to its far-from-neutral site ranked 1-2, respectively, in The Associated Press preseason Class 5A poll. The game will be broadcast on CN 100 at noon Aug. 28 and 7 p.m. Aug. 31. Fans may be at each others' throats, but Montini coach Chris Andriano and JC coach Dan Sharp are two of the game's classiest men. They also return quality. Montini brings ace receivers Jordan Westerkamp and Anthony Taylor, three-year starters Alex Walters and Ross Ferraro on defense; Joliet Catholic returns backs Malin Jones and Josh Ferguson, who ran for 141 and 96 yards, respectively, against Montini in the title game. Of particular interest for both teams is the quarterback position. Montini graduated signalcaller Brandon Pechloff, No. 2 in program history in TD passes. New starter Matt Westerkamp, cousin of 1,000-yard receiver Jordan, will take his turn leading the Broncos' spread offense. Joliet Catholic's 2009 quarterback, Anthony Maddie, transferred to Aurora Christian. Montini will find it hard to hold the new one to minus-8 net rushing yards as they did Maddie. Athlete Breshion Tucker - brother of returning starting cornerback Breion - returned to football after focusing on basketball. If this is tight, look for Montini kicker Matt Kersten, who can split the uprights from 50 yards. "A lot of pride is on the line for us," Andriano said. "A lot of people said that beating Joliet Catholic, it was a big upset, it's probably a fluke. We want to prove that it's not the case."
Next week: Loyola at Montini, Saturday; Providence at Joliet Catholic, Friday.