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Homecoming |
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GAME 4: Marian Catholic 28, Benet 7 |
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Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Marian Catholic's Spartan Stadium.
Where: Joe Orr Road and Ashland Avenue, Chicago Heights.
Records: Benet Academy 2-1; Marian Catholic 3-0.
CMC White: Benet 1-0; Marian 1-0.
Streaks: Redwings- 2 wins; Spartans- 3 wins.
Last week: Benet 24, Notre Dame 16; Marian 41, Gordon Tech 6.
Week 5: Benet at Mount Carmel (Friday); Marian at St. Patrick (Friday).
The series: Three straight Marian victories have given the Spartans a 12-4 advantage in the overall series.
Notes: Friday will also mark the dedication of the Patrick J. Murphy flag pole in Spartan Stadium. . . Marian is seeking its first 4-0 start since the 1993 state championship season. The Spartans' 149 points in three games is their best three-game scoring output in school history. |
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Sept. 20 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
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BENET ACADEMY |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
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MARIAN SPARTANS |
0 |
14 |
7 |
7 |
28 |
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Chris Rodriguez (top #4) rushed for 239 yards and two touchdowns and caught another TD pass to lead Marian to a 28-7 Homecoming win over Benet Academy. |
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Spartans (4-0) bounce Benet Academy
He may not be on the court for Saturday's dance, but based on Friday night's performance vs. Benet Academy, junior tailback Chris Rodriguez could be Homecoming King for a night.
Rodriguez rushed for 239 yards on 20 carries and exploded for touchdown runs of 75 and 78 yards among his three scores in leading Marian Catholic to a 28-7 victory over Benet Academy in Catholic Metropolitan Conference White play.
The Homecoming victory sent a huge crowd home happy on the night the stadium flag pole was dedicated to Patrick J. Murphy '81 and sent the Spartans to their first 4-0 start since their state championship year of 1993.
Rodriguez scored Marian's first two touchdowns, then iced the contest with a 78-yard clincher just 5:32 before the postgame fireworks display.
"It took us a little while to get going, but we all eventually picked it up," said Rodriguez, who also caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Joe Grubisic. "We've had a little trouble in the red zone, so we were looking for the big play tonight.
"I told the line to give me a hole, and then once I was in the secondary I had to find a way to get to the end zone. I've gotta say thanks to the offensive line for a great job tonight."
Strong efforts up front from Curtis Rich, Gary Downing, Jonathan Scudella, Kyle Fischer and Tim Kelly, as well as fullback Evan White, helped the Spartans rush for 304 total yards.
The Marian defense performed well too on Friday.
Ignited by three sacks from Adam Pack, another by Brad Wisowaty, a fumble recovery by Sean Waldron and interception from Zach LoMonaco, Marian blanked the Redwings (2-2) for three quarters. Benet had run just 16 plays for 23 total yards prior to halftime.
After just two possessions ate up a scoreless opening quarter, Rodriguez broke threw a small hole on the opening snap of the second quarter and zipped down the right sideline for a 75-yard score. Tim Rhoads' first of four conversion kicks gave Marian a 7-0 lead it would never relinquish.
Two possessions later, the Spartans concluded a 49-yard drive when Grubisic hit Rodriguez in the right flat and eventual 10-yard score. The junior quarterback finished 16 of 31 for 159 yards.
Building on a 14-0 halftime command, Grubisic scored on a 1-yard sneak for a 21-0 bulge with 7:58 to play in the third quarter. Finally, Rodriguez answered Benet's lone touchdown with the 78-yard burst.
"I tried to work real hard in practice this week to pick up for Travis (Bushnell, knee injury) because he's a great back," Rodriguez explained. "The line did a great job for us tonight and now we have to start getting ready for St. Patrick."
Marian's receiving leaders on Friday included Ryan Williams (six catches, 43 yards) and Milan Curry (five catches, 54 yards. |
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CATEGORY |
Benet |
Marian |
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First downs |
9 |
17 |
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Rush attempts / yards |
23-30 |
37-304 |
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Passing yards |
60 |
159 |
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Pass completions |
7 |
16 |
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Pass attempts |
27 |
31 |
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Had intercepted |
1 |
1 |
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Fumbles / lost |
3/1 |
1/0 |
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Penalty yards |
2-15 |
10-71 |
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Next opponent |
at Mt. Carmel |
at St. Patrick |
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SCORING
MC- Chris Rodriguez 75-yard run (Tim Rhoads kick), 11:48 second.
MC- Rodriguez 10-yard pass from Joe Grubisic (Rhoads kick), 3:27 second.
MC- Grubisic 1-yard run (Rhoads kick), 7:58 third.
B- Phil Goforth 11-yard pass from Kyle Gill (Ben Aguilar kick), 10:10 fourth.
MC- Rodriguez 78-yard run (Rhoads kick), 5:32 fourth.
Passing: BA- Gillen 7 of 22, 60 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; Dan LeFevour 0 of 5, 0 yards. MC- Grubisic 16 of 31, 159 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT.
Rushing: BA- Andy Urhausen 10-57, Goforth 1-7, Chris Martin 3-5, Mike Martin 3-(minus 5), Gillen 6-(minus 38). MC- Rodriguez 20-239 (2 TD), Grubisic 11-42, Evan White 3-14, Daniel Johnson 2-7, Mike Jedlicka 1-2..
Receiving: BA- Goforth 4-39 (TD), Dan Tatro 3-21. MC- Milan Curry 5-54, Ryan Williams 6-43, Rodriguez 2-34 (TD), Andy Lietz 3-28.
Interceptions: Goforth (B); Zach LoMonaco (MC). |
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