Montini keeps it simple, wins CCL Green
Montini made football look as simple as running back Prince Walker described it Saturday.
"Today it was just our overall team play, the offense helping the defense out by scoring a lot and the defense helping the offense out by holding them to minimum points," said Walker, whose touchdown runs of 13 and 62 yards were the tip of the iceberg in a 48-7 Chicago Catholic League Green win at Fenwick's home away from home, Morton West in Berwyn.
Answering Fenwick's successful opening drive, the Broncos scored on their first six possessions and seven of eight in the first half. Montini (8-0, 3-0) clinched at least a share of the CCL Green title; a win next week at Marmion earns it outright.
Coach Gene Nudo's Friars began with an 11-play, 80-yard drive capped by quarterback Jacob Keller's 2-yard touchdown pass to Will Lattner at 6:43 of the first quarter. Fenwick (3-5, 1-2) converted twice on third down, once on fourth down as Keller completed 7 of 8 passes in a drive lasting 5 minutes, 37 seconds.
"(Fenwick) did a really nice job, you've got to give their kids credit for executing," Montini coach Chris Andriano said. "They had us off balance there a little bit, and you've got to give our guys credit for adjusting and settling down and playing a solid game."
Montini made up the deficit in 1:24. Walker's 24-yard run and 19-yard catch set up Justin Blake's pretty 10-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Maher, who gathered the perfect spiral over his left shoulder.
Kicker Michael Cooney tied it 7-7 at 5:14 of the first quarter, and it was on. Cooney was 6 for 6 on extra points with a pair of 27-yard field goals, the second closing a first half Montini led 41-7.
Broncos two-way lineman Joe Spivak believed the team had to shake emotion after a classmate's sudden death this week.
"A lot more went into this game than just the Montini Broncos," Spivak said. "Taylor Williams was with us for sure."
Once acclimated, defenders such as Spivak, Jake Kapp, John Embrey and Brandon Andino squelched Fenwick's ground game while the offense totaled 485 yards, 312 rushing. Blake ran for 74 yards and completed 14 of 22 passes for 173 yards. Walker ran 11 times for 142 yards plus 4 receptions for 64 yards.
Highlights included Brandon Beyer outwrestling a defender for a 16-yard touchdown pass and state-caliber sprinter Mitch West beating all pursuit on a 69-yard touchdown run.
"We really just wanted to focus on keeping our tempo up and letting our weapons like Justin and Prince do their thing," Spivak said.