Marmion wants to slow down TF South
One good Thornton Fractional deserves another.
Marmion corralled the speed of TF North in its Class 6A playoff opener to bring on higher seeded South Suburban Blue mate TF South.
“We've got to stay away from the big play,” said Cadets coach Dan Thorpe, aiming for Marmion's first quarterfinal berth since 1998. “We did last week. We did not against Montini. It's a pretty simple formula.”
No. 3 seed Marmion (9-1) ground down No. 6 TF North, the Cadets' turnover ratio improving to plus-17 on 2 Mitch Loehmann interceptions and free safety Kyle Kozak's fumble recovery.
Loehmann, T.J. Lally, Nick Scoliere, Jake Winkel and the Glasgow brothers, Ryan and Graham who should play after spraining an ankle last week have become familiar names.
Kozak, defensive end Nate Pacer, nose tackle Tyler Boyd, kicker-punter A.J. Friedman and many others are unsung heroes who make Marmion hard to beat.
Another, quarterback Bobby Peters, continued a strong second half. He completed 8 of 16 passes against TF North with a 26-yard touchdown to Lally that by halftime gave the Cadets all the points required to win 24-0.
Marmion may have earned what Thorpe earlier termed “expected wins” over Guerin, Chicago Christian and Walther Lutheran, but before the clock started running those games proved valuable for Peters. The senior has now completed 67 of 129 passes for 874 yards, 6 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
“He threw very well against Montini and he had over 10 audibles last week, one of which he audibled into a touchdown,” Thorpe said. “That's why we're 9-1. Our coaching staff puts together a game plan but the kids have to execute, and they're watching films, reading their scouting reports and executing on game day.”
The Cadets need more of Peters' play-action passing and time-consuming rushing from Lally, Scoliere, Loehmann, Garret Becker and Mike Carbonara this week against TF South, which has lost only to unbeaten Lemont, 23-17.
When the No. 2 seed Rebels (9-1) line up behind Division 1-recruit linemen Robert Sterling and Robert Williams, Marmion has to contain the pass the facet Montini did hurt them with. TF South quarterback Kevin Hallberg threw for 2 touchdowns in the Rebels' 35-14 win over No. 7 Thornridge. Hallberg throws to receiver DeAndre Thurman and tight end Justin Smith while Allante Nelson and Giovanni Canty accept handoffs.
“It's their speed,” Thorpe said. “We could have it shut down at the flank and, boom, a guy will take two steps back and run sideways and get up the sideline on We haven't seen the speed we saw last week and we'll see this week.”