Teammates, coaches sing Haralson’s praises after Montini advances past Geneseo

Montini two-way lineman Ralph Haralson might be the most overlooked player in the area.

He’s certainly the biggest.

The 6-foot-2, 295-pound senior has excelled at a variety of positions since transferring from DePaul Prep after last season.

“I think he’s a really underrecruited guy,” Montini senior quarterback Israel Abrams said. “Ralph is on the bigger side and I think he could be impactful on the defensive side of the ball or the offensive side at the next level.”

Haralson has been impactful for the Broncos.

“He’s started for us at guard, tackle and center on offense, and he’s been a defensive tackle and a defensive end, so he’s done a great job,” Montini coach Mike Bukovsky said. “He’s really bought into everything here and he busts his butt.”

Haralson helped the Broncos bust up Geneseo on Saturday. Starting at center for the first time this season, he led the way for a rushing attack that put up 222 yards and five touchdowns, and he was equally effective on defense as host Montini won 35-12 in a Class 4A first-round game in Lombard.

The eighth-seeded Broncos (8-2) will travel to top-seeded Morris (10-0) next week.

“Ralph made some big plays for us,” Bukovsky said. “He’s key for us. He can move. He has really good feet, and he’s got a big motor.”

Haralson’s motor helped drive an offense led by the Miami-bound Abrams, who completed 12 of 16 passes for 154 yards and rushed 11 times for 59 yards and three touchdowns. Senior running back Eddie Kowalczyk added 102 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, and sophomore running back Patrick Gabriel also scored for Montini.

Haralson was making his first start at center this season, but he started there all last season.

“I felt like it was nothing new to me,” Haralson said. “Just made sure I got the snaps, getting a good drive off the ball and protecting the quarterback.”

Switching positions is nothing new for Haralson, who toggles effortlessly up and down both lines.

“I try to think of it as I’m a well-round player on both offense and defense,” Haralson said. “I try to dominate both sides of the ball and give 100% every single play.

“I feel like the high motor is where that comes in for me, trying to be there for my team and trying to impact the game the most and get the ‘W.’”

Haralson’s biggest impact on defense came early in the third quarter. Geneseo (7-4) had kicked a 39-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to pull within 21-9 and got the ball to start the second half.

The Maple Leafs crossed midfield, but Haralson dropped Geneseo quarterback Luca Turigliatti for losses twice in a three-play span to help snuff the drive.

The Broncos then went 59 yards in eight plays, with Abrams scoring his third touchdown on a 1-yard run to make it 28-6. Senior defensive backs Jack Spanos and Andrew Chrastka added fourth-quarter interceptions.

While Haralson said his strength as a player is “definitely run destruction,” his talents also helped Montini with the construction of its team chemistry.

“Ralph is a team guy,” Abrams said. “He’s always trying to put others first.

“You need guys like that on every team and that’s the type of guy Ralph is. He’s a very loving dude, but at the same time, he’s trying to work, and he’s a dog on the field. And he’s huge.”

Haralson has offers from Concordia-St. Paul, Roosevelt and Elmhurst but is hoping for more as people discover his many talents, which aren’t limited to the field.

“The week of the Carmel game, someone said Ralph is singing the national anthem,” Bukovsky said. “I go, ‘Ralph, do you know how to sing?’ He said, ‘Coach, I’m pretty good at it.’”

It’s true.

“He belted it out,” Bukovsky said. “It was unbelievable.”