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Marian falls to St. Patrick in season, ESCC finale

   Four was the magic number for St. Patrick on Friday in Chicago Heights.
   The Shamrocks needed just four plays for their first three scoring drives en route to a 26-6 East Suburban Catholic Conference victory over the Spartans.
   Four also represents Marian´s losing streak after a 3-2 start to the year as the Spartans will miss the IHSA playoffs for the first time in three years with a 3-6 final mark.
   Marian´s defense actually turned in a solid effort for much of the night, but couldn´t overcome an average first-half drive start for the Shamrocks of the Marian 39-yard line.
   With solid play up front from Nick Clark, Noe Arroyo, Steve Ajdinovich, Ron Freeman and Jovon Dixon, the Spartan defense held St. Patrick in check and kept matters scoreless despite the Shamrocks starting their first two drives at the Spartan 26 and 20.
   However, a Marian offense that produced only 25 first-half yards couldn´t take any pressure off the Marian defense.
   Following the two initial holds, St. Patrick used short fields to score on four of their last five possessions of the first half and take a 26-0 command into halftime. The visitors needed just four plays on their first three scoring drives of 24, 41 and 42 yards.
   St. Patrick applied a back-breaker at the close of the half with its lone lengthy drive of the evening. Taking possession at their own 41 with 2:36 to play in the half, the Shamrocks concluded a 12-play drive when quarterback Thomas Barrett hit Jason Genova with a 6-yard score with five ticks remaining in the half for the 26-0 margin.
   At the half, Marian´s offense had produced just 25 yards on 24 snaps. The futility continued to start the second half, as the Spartans first 30 plays from scrimmage for the night netted just 24 total yards.
   Marian didn´t notch its third first down of the contest until 1:15 remained in the third quarter. However, it wasn´t until late in the final quarter that the Spartans dented the scoreboard.
   Using five of its eight first downs for the night, Marian utilized its passing game to march 80 yards in nine plays for a score. After Zach Denny hit Malcolm Parker for 17 yards and Michael Brooks for 11 yards to get to the Shamrock 2-yard line, tailback Sean Whitfield followed Jon Scudella and Jack Taffe into the end zone for the score.
   The scoring drive was literally the only highlight of the night for the Marian offense, which never did reach the century mark in yardage. Connecting on just eight of 29 passes, the Spartans threw for just 67 yards and gained only 28 rushing yards in 21 attempts.
   To its credit, an injury-plagued Marian defense led by linebackers Josh Howe, Jack McCormick and Mike Buxbaum played with heart despite the large deficit and blanked the playoff-bound Shamrocks in the second half.
   St. Patrick finished with 273 total yards, led by tailback Mark Dietz with 124 rushing yards and two scores. Marian actually had the longest scoring drive of the night by a longshot.
   Marian also fended off a pair of field goal attempts by St. Patrick, as one sailed left and the other was blocked by Joe Siegert.
   However, the Spartans did not help themselves by committing the only two turnovers of the contest.
   Freshmen: A strong defense and kickoff return for score by Mark Scott were all visiting Marian needed in a 9-0 victory over St. Patrick. Zack Roszach added a conversion kick for Marian and Matt Marquez recorded a safety.

SCORING
SP- Mark Dietz 8-yard run (Chris Gasiorek kick), 2:22 first.
SP- Nick Infante 20-yard pass from Thomas Barrett (kick failed), 7:07 second.
SP- Dietz 32-yard run (pass failed), 3:33 second.
SP- Jason Genova 6-yard pass from Barrett (Gasiorek kick), 0:05 second.
MC- Sean Whitfield 2-yard run (pass failed), 4:58 fourth.

INDIVIDUALS
   Passing: SP- Barrett 10 of 17, 112 yards, 2 TD. MC- Zach Denny 8 of 27, 67 yards, 1 INT; Zack Stevenson 0 of 2, 0 yards.
   Rushing: SP- Dietz 12-124 (2 TD), Dan O´Donnell 10-19, Kevin Golden 6-12, Pat Cradick 1-9, Barrett 2-5, Adrian Mendoza 2-1, John Zayas 1-0, Brian Felke 9-(minus 3), Genova 1-(minus 6). MC- Whitfield 10-21 (TD), Denny 11-7.
   Receiving: SP- Infante 3-43 (TD), Genova 3-40 (TD), Matt Ledenbach 1-11, George Hickey 1-10, Luke Scanlon 1-9, Joe Nee 1-8. MC- Michael Brooks 3-33, Malcolm Parker 2-22, Cliffton Gordon 1-6, Matt Swanson 1-5, Whitfield 1-1.
   Interceptions: Brian O´Connor (SP).

East Suburban Catholic Conference

GAME 8: Benet Academy 35, Marian Catholic 13

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Benedictine University.
Where: Maple Road and Yawkey, Lisle.
ESCC records: Marian Catholic 3-4; Benet Academy 4-3.
Streaks: Spartans- 2 losses; Redwings- 1 loss.
Week 7: Marist 19, Marian Catholic 0; St. Patrick 14, Benet Academy 11.
Week 9 (Fri., 7:30 p.m.): St. Patrick at Marian Catholic; Benet at Notre Dame.
Last year: Marian Catholic 20, Benet Academy 19 (overtime).
The series: A five-game winning streak has given Marian a 14-4 command in the series, as the Redwings last prevailed, 14-10, in 1997 when the teams split two contests.
Notes: The game represents one of the first contests ever played at Benedictine´s new turf stadium... The Spartans are seeking their first road victory in four tests... Marian has outscored the Redwings, 142-58, during the current winning streak... The Spartans have not lost three straight contests since the 1998 season.

Marian playoff hopes dashed with loss at Benet

   Benet Academy certainly earned its double-whammy East Suburban Catholic Conference victory on Friday in Lisle.
   A 35-13 decision for the Redwings virtually assured them a playoff berth, while delivering the final blow to visiting Marian Catholic´s playoff hopes.
   However, it didn´t seem like the Redwings (5-3) had to work very hard at times in engineering their victory.
   Benet scored on first-half drives of 28 and 27 yards, then capped its scoring for the night with a 29-yard drive. A credit to their defense, the Redwings benefitted from two critical Spartan turnovers, six Marian punts, an advantage in special teams and a unique call.
   The Redwings can still take satisfaction, however, in denying Marian (3-5) a third straight IHSA state playoff appearance. As well, their most challenging drive against a deceptively stingy Marian defense probably provided what proved to the clinching score.
   Marian finally broke the ice early in the fourth quarter with the game´s longest scoring drive at that point. Set up by first-down passes from Zach Denny to Walter Fisher and Cameron Williams, Sean Whitfield finally got the visitors on the board with a 5-yard touchdown run. Noe Arroyo´s conversion kick pulled the Spartans within 21-7 with 11:21 to play.
   The score also halted a scoreless string of eight quarters and avoided the first back-to-back Spartan shutouts since 1998.
   Despite fairly short scoring drives, a Marian defense playing without middle linebacker Jake Zsuppon (knee injury) had played somewhat tough. A defensive front led by Arroyo, Ian Turak, Ron Freeman, Justin Lynch, Steve Ajdinovich and Jovon Dixon had led Benet to fewer than 3 yards per carry in the opening half.
   But faced with a Spartan uprising, the Redwings finally broke down the Marian defense. Benet quarterback Dan LeFevour capped an 11-play, 69-yard scoring march with a 2-yard sneak for a 28-7 cushion.
   To that point and thereafter, things were made somewhat easy for the Redwing offense.
   After a scoreless first quarter, the Redwings´ 6-0 lead came courtesy of an 18-yard punt return to the Marian 28-yard line. The margin swelled to 14-0 after an interception set up Benet at the Spartan 27-yard line.
   Following halftime, a short punt left the host squad just 55 yards from the end zone.
   The Redwings´ final score of the night epitomized the way things went for Marian on Friday. First, Benet gained possession at the Marian 29-yard line after a fumble on a kickoff return.
   Despite playing on the new artificial turf at Benedictine University, a playground ruling aided the Redwings in their final score. On an apparent fumble and touchback, an inadvertent whistle resulted in perhaps the first "do-over" in Marian memory. The creative officiating gave Benet a fifth-down play, one it used to score its fifth touchdown.
   The play was not significant, as it occurred with just more than three minutes to play. It also allowed Marian time for its longest drive of the night and a consolation score.
   With junior quarterback Zack Stevenson at the helm, the Spartans marched 78 yards in six plays for the final score of the evening.
   A 39-yard pass to Williams highlighted the drive, which was also aided by a pass interference call. The drive concluded with a pair of Stevenson passes to Whitfield, the second one carrying 4 yards for the touchdown.
   Despite having a short field much of the night, Benet managed to run off 65 plays (not including the phanton down) to the Spartans´ 49 snaps.
   Frequent appearances by Spartan punter Andrew Hebda were a result of a Marian rushing game that included four sacks and just 36 yards on the ground in 21 tries. Cliffton Gordon carried nine times for 31 yards as the top ground-gainer.
   Marian´s quarterback tandem actually produced solid numbers. With Walter Fisher (four catches, 54 yards) as the favorite target, Denny clicked on 11 of 23 passes for 127 yards. Stevenson was three of five for 51 yards and the scoring strike to Whitfield. However, several dropped passes prevented Marian from staying in the contest much longer.
   Faced with just its third losing campaign in the last 34 years, Marian will conclude the season next Friday when the Spartans host playoff-bound St. Patrick at 7:30 p.m.
   Sophomores: Marian bowed to the Redwings by a similar score, 34-13.
   Freshmen: Despite taking an early lead, the Spartans fell to 2-6 with a 22-13 loss to the Redwings. Marian scored first on a hook-and-ladder, as Kevin Kammert tossed to Scott Smith, who lateraled to Mark Scott. He ran the final 50 yards for the score. Scott also added a score on a 40-yard sweep play.

SCORING
BA- Nick Dirienzo 5-yard run (kick failed), 3:45 second.
BA- Mike Persak 6-yard pass from Dan LeFevour (LeFevour run), 0:55 second.
BA- Dirienzo 42-yard run (Brendan Hannigan kick), 5:47 third.
MC- Sean Whitfield 5-yard run (Noe Arroyo kick), 11:21 fourth.
BA- LeFevour 2-yard run (Hannigan kick), 5:57 fourth.
BA- LeFevour 7-yard run (Hannigan kick), 2:53 fourth.
MC- Whitfield 4-yard pass from Zack Stevenson (pass failed), 1:06 fourth.

INDIVIDUALS
   Passing: MC- Zach Denny 11 of 23, 127 yards, 1 INT; Zack Stevenson 3 of 5, 51 yards, 1 TD. B- LeFevour 9 of 15, 95 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT.
   Rushing: MC- Cliffton Gordon 9-31, Whitfield 6-28 (TD), Stevenson 1-2, Denny 5-(minus 25). B- Dirienzo 12-102 (2 TD), Matt LeMay 14-40, LeFevour 13-38 (2 TD), Bob Brown 5-31, Mike Szela 4-11, Chris Rocci 1-8, Adam Ahern 1-1.
   Receiving: MC- Cameron Williams 3-65, Walter Fisher 4-54, Whitfield 3-30 (TD), Malcolm Parker 2-24, Matt Swanson 1-11, Gordon 1-4. B- Persak 3-33 (TD), Szela 2-25, Dirienzo 1-13, LeMay 1-11, Sean Carr 1-7, Brown 1-6.
   Interceptions: Michael Buxbaum (MC); Mike Guess (B).

GAME 7 HOMECOMING: Marist 19, Marian Catholic 0

GAME 6: Joliet Catholic 21, Marian Catholic 14

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Joliet Memorial Stadium.
Where: 3000 W. Jefferson Street, Joliet.
ESCC records: Marian Catholic 3-2; Joliet Catholic 5-0.
Streaks: Spartans- 2 wins; Hilltoppers- 10 wins.
Week 5: Marian 27, St. Viator 15; Joliet Catholic 48, Benet Academy 14.
Week 7 (Fri., 7:30 p.m.): Joliet Catholic at Notre Dame; Marist at Marian Catholic.
Last year: Joliet Catholic 46, Marian Catholic 23.
The series: The Hilltoppers have captured four straight to take a 22-8 command in the longtime rivalry. Marian´s last victory came with a 26-14 decision in 1994.
Notes: Joliet Catholic was one of two (Carmel) eventual state champions on the Spartans´ schedule last year... The Hilltoppers have won 11 state titles, while Marian won the state crown in 1993... The Spartans seek their first three-game win streak since the last three regular-season games of 2003... Marian has nine rushing TDs and six passing TDs this year.

Joliet Catholic fends of inspired Marian effort

   Just 8 yards separated Marian Catholic from a chance for one of the biggest upsets of the 2004 high school football season on Friday.
   The Spartans ventured inside the 10-yard line with less than five minutes to play, putting in jeapordy defending state champion Joliet Catholic´s 10-game winning streak.
   Despite a second-and-2 at the Hilltopper 8-yard line, Joliet Catholic forced an incomplete pass, then a fourth-down sack to escape with a 21-14 East Suburban Catholic victory.
   The Hilltoppers improved to 6-0 with their closest call since a 34-16 week two victory over St. Viator. Marian fell to 3-3 with the loss, but may have gained the necessary momentum for a strong playoff drive heading into its final three tests against Marist, Benet and St. Patrick.
   The Spartans were outgained by just more than 100 yards on Friday, but came up with several big plays on offense and defense to keep Joliet Catholic on its heels.
   Marian led the contest, 7-6, in the early going, then drove 66 yards early in the second half to forge a 14-14 tie.
   Joliet Catholic responded with an 85-yard drive to take a 21-14 command with 6:44 to go in the third quarter, but Marian proved it was in the contest to stay.
   When a Marian lateral pass went awry on the next possession and gave the Hillmen possession at the Spartan 12, the visitors´ defense responded in a big way. Despite a 6-yard gain on first down, Marian sniffed out a quarterback bootleg for a 4-yard loss on the next snap. After a short gain and a Joliet Catholic penalty, Marian forced an incomplete pass on fourth down.
   The Spartans marched from their own 11 to the JCA 33, but a fourth down pass to Cliffton Gordon fell 1 yard short of a fresh set of downs.
   Undaunted, the Marian defense again held on a fourth-down play to set up the offense 52 yards away from a tying score.
   Marian gained a first down on a 13-yard connection between Zach Denny and Gordon, then earned a first down at the JCA 16 courtesy of a penalty. Denny scrambled 8 yards to the Hilltopper 8 on first down, but that was as close as the Spartans got.
   Ironically, a .500 Marian team has likely turned in its two best season efforts against the ESCC´s powers and tandem defending state champs. The Spartans also held a 10-0 lead at 5-1 Carmel before eventually succumbing by a 21-10 margin.
   Highlighted by Turak´s fumble recovery, a huge sack by Mike Izguerra, and two other fumbles forced by a defensive front of Turak, Noe Arroyo, Ron Freeman and Steve Ajdinovich, Marian held the Hilltoppers on fourth down on three occasions.
   The Marian offense put itself in a position to pull off the surprise on Friday as well.
   After managing a single first down on its initial possession, Marian responded to the Turak fumble recovery with its second chance. Set up at the JCA 32, Denny exploded through the line on a sneak to give Marian a first-and-goal at the 3. Gordon used blocks from Jon Scudella and Patrick McNamara to hit paydirt from there. Arroyo´s conversion kick gave Marian a 7-6 edge midway through the opening stanza.
   Joliet Catholic forged ahead, 14-7, early in the second quarter, but Marian threatened again before the half. A Denny connection to Sean Whitfield got the Spartans to the JCA 37 and a penalty moved the Spartans 5 yards closer. However, the drive eventually stalled on an offensive pass interference call.
    Marian proved it was around to stay when the opening possession of the second half produced three first downs and a tying score. After a key completion to Gordon, Denny found Walter Fisher on the left sideline. The senior took care of the last two-thirds of the play on his own, racing 32 yards for the score that made it 14-14.
   Denny finished with 131 passing yards, hitting Fisher five times for 75 yards.
   Although Marian was outgained, 259-84, on the ground, Gordon rushed for 44 yards and Denny for 41.
   Freshmen: Despite a pair of touchdown runs by Mark Scott, Marian fell to 2-4 Saturday with a 53-24 loss to Joliet Catholic. The Spartans also got touchdown runs from Malcolm Allen and Jake Pozywio.

SCORING
JCA- Jack Eastman 9-yard pass from John Kiernan (kick failed), 9:35 first.
MC- Cliffton Gordon 3-yard run (Noe Arroyo kick), 3:55 first.
JCA- Joe Benson 3-yard run (Benson run), 9:57 second.
MC- Walter Fisher 32-yard pass from Zach Denny (Arroyo kick), 9:46 third.
JCA- Benson 3-yard run (Kevin Platt kick), 6:44 third.

INDIVIDUALS
   Passing: MC- Denny 12 of 21, 131 yards, 1 TD. JCA- Kiernan 5 of 9, 60 yards, 1 TD.
   Rushing: MC- Gordon 19-44 (TD), Denny 12-41, Cameron Williams 1-(minus 1). JCA- Benson 12-102 (2 TD), Chris Clancy 7-91, Bill McKeon 12-81, Kiernan 8-(minus 15).
   Receiving: MC- Fisher 5-75 (TD), Gordon 3-31, Malcolm Parker 2-12, Sean Whitfield 1-10, Williams 1-3. JCA- Eastman 2-32 (TD), Benson 2-16, Clancy 1-12.
   Interceptions: None.

GAME 5: Marian Catholic 27, St. Viator 15

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Spartan Stadium.
Where: Joe Orr Road at Ashland Avenue, Chicago Heights.
ESCC records: St. Viator 1-3; Marian Catholic 2-2.
Streaks: Lions- 1 loss; Spartans- 1 loss.
Week 4: Benet 17, St. Viator 7; Marian Catholic 31, Nazareth Academy 27.
Week 6 (Fri., 7:30 p.m.): Notre Dame at St. Viator; Marian Catholic at Joliet Catholic.
Last year: Marian Catholic 49, St. Viator 16.
The series: The Spartans own eight straight victories and a 9-1 series command, as the lone St. Viator victory came in 1967.
Notes: Marian has scored at least 32 points in its last four meetings vs. St. Viator... The Spartans are 2-0 on home turf this season and have won three straight at home... Marian has one its last four contests decided by less than a touchdown... Zach Denny´s 260 passing yards vs. Nazareth were just 24 shy of Joe Grubisic´s single-game record of 284 yards.

Marian trips up St. Viator to improve to 3-2

   Marian Catholic was all business when it hosted St. Viator Friday in the middle contest of the East Suburban Catholic Conference season.
   The Spartans took the first lead, held it throughout the night and mixed a balanced offense with a big-play defense to produce a 27-15 victory. The win puts Marian above the .500 mark at 3-2 for the first time this year heading into a week six showdown at rival Joliet Catholic.
   The Spartans got two touchdowns from Sean Whitfield and Marian quarterback Zach Denny added a passing and rushing score to keep the Lions at a comfortable distance most of the night.
   "Our intent was to run the ball, but when we started to do that well it opened up the passing game for us," explained Whitfield, who broke off a 74-yard scoring run early in the second quarter to break open a scoreless contest.
   "The pass and the run complemented each other very well tonight."
   The numbers back up Whitfield, who benefitted from some big holes produced by an offensive line of Patrick McNamara, Jon Scudella, Dan Kwiatkowski, Jonathan Jack and Stephen Peternell.
   Although the stats weren´t staggering, they were enough to keep the Lions (1-4) off-balance. Whitfield led a 133-yard rushing attack with 109 yards on 11 carries. Meanwhile, Denny used six different receivers to toss for 182 yards.
   Whitfield likely had Marian´s two most crucial scores- the one to break the ice and a 4-yard TD burst on the drive immediately after St. Viator pulled within 14-7.
   "Any team can beat you on any day and I´m sure they felt like they could beat us when they scored right away in the second half," Whitfield said. "But we came right back with a score and we shut them down."
   Marian´s defense also didn´t boast brilliant numbers, as the Spartans yielded 216 yards via the air.
   However, big plays frustrated the Lions throughout the night. With linebackers Mike Izguerra, Jack McCormick, Jake Zsuppon and Josh Howe leading the way, the Spartans held St. Viator to negative yardage on 15 snaps.
   Meanwhile, strong efforts up front from Ian Turak, Noe Arroyo, Ron Freeman and Steve Ajdinovich helped limit the visitors to 31 rushing yards on 31 attempts.
   The Marian defense helped ignite a second first-half score that sent the Spartans into the locker room with a 14-0 command. Ajdinovich picked up a Lion fumble to start a drive that concluded when Denny hit Walter Fisher on an 18-yard scoring strike. Arroyo´s second of three conversion kicks made it 14-0 midway through the second quarter.
   The Spartans also got fumble recoveries by Freeman and Mike Buxbaum, along with a Buxbaum interception. Plus, Spartan sacks came from Turak and Justin Lynch.
   Whitfield´s second score answered the Lions early in the fourth quarter, then Denny scored on a sneak with 1:26 to play to apply the clincher.
   Denny finished 16 of 30 for 182 yards, as Fisher pulled in four passes for 61 yards. The well-spread aerial attack also included Cliffton Gordon (three catches, 34 yards), Malcolm Parker (two, 30), Matt Swanson (three, 22), Cameron Williams (two, 22) and Whitfield (two, 12).
   The Spartan sophomores also improved to 3-2 on Friday with a 20-12 ESCC decision over the Lions.
   Freshmen: Mark Scott scored on a 45-yard run, but it was all the points Marian could muster in a 47-6 setback at St. Viator. The Marian B Team prevailed over the Lions, 14-6, as Rasean Fenner scored on a 40-yard run and threw a 25-yard touchdown pass fro Steven Mitchell. Sean Daley hit Mitchell with a conversion pass as well.

SCORING
MC- Sean Whitfield 74-yard run (Noe Arroyo kick), 10:53 first.
MC- Walter Fisher 18-yard pass from Zach Denny (Arroyo kick), 6:59 second.
SV- Matt O´Connor 4-yard pass from Mike Cortese (Brent Tomlinson kick), 5:27 third.
MC- Whitfield 4-yard run (Arroyo kick), 11:46 fourth.
MC- Denny 2-yard run (kick failed), 1:26 fourth.
SV- Dan Carter 50-yard pass from Cortese (Cortese run), 0:05 fourth.

INDIVIDUALS
   Passing: SV- Cortese 15 of 27, 216 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT. MC- Denny 16 of 30, 182 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT.
   Rushing: SV- Anthony Bono 12-32, Dave Daniels 2-19, John Menges 1-1, Pat McAvoy 5-(minus 5), O´Connor 1-(minus 7), Cortese 10-(minus 9). MC- Whitfield 11-109 (2 TD), Cliffton Gordon 5-11, Denny 12-7 (TD), Mike Buxbaum 1-6.
   Receiving: SV- Tomlinson 5-124, Carter 3-75 (TD), John Leahy 1-15, Joe Stanley 1-14, O´Connor 1-4 (TD), McAvoy 1-3, Bono 3 (minus 10).
   Interceptions: Cortese (SV); Buxbaum (MC).

GAME 4: Marian Catholic 31, Nazareth Academy 27

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Spartan Stadium.
Where: Joe Orr Road at Ashland Avenue, Chicago Heights.
ESCC records: Nazareth 0-3; Marian Catholic 1-2.
Streaks: Roadrunners- 6 losses; Spartans- 1 loss.
Week 3: Benet Academy 35, Nazareth 22; Carmel 21, Marian Catholic 10.
Week 5: Notre Dame at Nazareth (1:30 Sat.); St. Viator at Marian Catholic (7:30 Fri).
Last year: Marian Catholic 40, Nazareth Academy 0.
The series: Last year´s meeting in LaGrange Park represented the first contest between the current ESCC rivals.
Notes: Despite a 1-2 start to the campaign, Marian´s defense ranks third in the ESCC for points allowed... Nazareth´s last victory came in week six of 2003 with a 34-0 victory over St. Joseph... The Spartans have not turned the ball over via fumble this season... Seven different players have scored Marian´s nine touchdowns this season.

Marian fends off Nazareth´s upset bid

   It was very clear that both teams were going to run strictly to set up the pass when Nazareth Academy visited Marian Catholic for an East Suburban Catholic Conference battle on Friday.
   The teams lit up the Chicago Heights night for more than 500 passing yards, combining for 69 aerials attempts.
   All of that makes it ironic that Cliffton Gordon´s 12-yard run proved to be the winning score and Noe Arroyo´s 31-yard field goal the deciding points in a 31-27 Marian victory.
   While the quarterbacks virtually matched yardage totals, the Spartans´ 179-24 margin in rushing proved to be the difference in Marian improving to 2-2.
   "We told our line we basically weren´t going to run the ball in the first half," explained Marian quarterback Zach Denny, who finished with 260 passing yards and three scores. "But we knew if we were going to win the game, we would eventually have to run the ball too. The line showed up when it counted in the end when we needed it the most."
   The senior signal-caller finished 19 of 34 for 260 yards, and the host squad needed almost every one of them.
   Roadrunner quarterback Peter Zavagnin was equally brilliant, completing 20 of 35 pass for 266 yards. The game was not decided until the Marian secondary forced four straight incomplete passes on Nazareth´s final possession.
   Marian took one-score leads twice in the first half before setting for a 14-14 halftime stalemate on a night the Spartans celebrated Decade of Champions. Denny hit Malcolm Parker with a 22-yard touchdown pass and Cameron Williams with a 6-yard scoring toss to complete a drive that spanned more than eight minutes.
   The Spartans stalled before getting to the end zone in the opening possession of the second half, but emerged with critical points.
   After having a field goal blocked at the end of the first half, Noe Arroyo booted a 31-yarder with 9:04 to play in the third quarter for a 17-14 Spartan lead. It proved to be the score Nazareth couldn´t match.
   The Roadrunners did take a 21-17 lead two possessions later, but Marian responded with one of three scoring drives that spanned 74 yards or more. Denny hooked up with Walter Fisher (seven catches, 149 yards) on a 54-yard touchdown that gave Marian a 23-21 lead.
   Despite being a target in the shotgun most of the night, Denny responded with big pass plays and 55 rushing yards.
   "It´s kind of fun when they know you´re going to pass," Denny explained. "It´s good to know our offense can still come out and execute. It shows something about our offense when they know it´s coming and we still execute well."
   The job was not complete, however.
   Marian applied a back-breaker when it drove 92 yards to expand the margin to two scores. Keyed by a 27-yard burst earlier in the drive, Gordon finished off matters with a 12-yard scoring run, as the Spartans piled up their rushing totals late.
   Ignited by efforts on the offensive line from Jon Scudella, Patrick McNamara, Dan Kwiatkowski, Jonathan Jack and Stephen Peternell, Marian rattled off 68 snaps on Friday. Only two of those were punts- one that resulted in a Spartan fumble recovery by Josh Howe, and the other coming with less than five minute remaining in the game.
   Gordon finished with 85 yards on 11 carries and Sean Whitfield totaled 81 combined rushing-receiving yards.
   "We wish we were better than .500," Denny explained. "But we just want to keep improving, keep winning and take it one game at a time. We need five wins to get in the playoffs, and we want to get some momentum going by that time."
   Freshmen: After spotting Nazareth a 14-0 lead, Marian Catholis used three touchdown runs by Malcolm Allen to key a 22-14 comeback victory. Allen added a conversion run and Jake Pozywio passed for another. Marian (2-2) also got a strong rushing effort from John DiGiovanni. 

SCORING
MC- Malcolm Parker 22-yard pass from Zach Denny (Noe Arroyo kick), 9:18 first.
Nz- Rodney Payton 13-yard pass from Peter Zavagnin (Zavagnin kick), 7:05 first.
MC- Cameron Williams 6-yard pass from Denny (Arroyo kick), 4:02 second.
Nz- Matt Schiffler 2-yard run (Zavagnin kick), 0:50 second.
MC- Arroyo 31-yard field goal, 9:04 third.
Nz- Zavagnin 4-yard run (Zavagnin kick), 5:38 third.
MC- Walter Fisher 54-yard pass from Denny (kick failed), 3:09 third.
MC- Cliffton Gordon 12-yard run (Denny to Parker), 8:21 fourth.
Nz- Payton 32-yard pass from Zavagnin (run failed), 6:28 fourth.

INDIVIDUALS
   Passing: Naz- Zavagnin 20 of 35, 266 yards, 2 TD. MC- Denny 19 of 34, 260 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT.
   Rushing: Naz- Schiffler 12-25 (TD), Payton 1-0, Zavagnin 6-(minus 1-TD). MC- Gordon 11-85 (TD), Denny 12-55, Sean Whitfield 6-40, Williams 2-(minus 1).
   Receiving: Naz- Kevin Frymire 6-84, Payton 4-65 (2 TD), Schiffler 5-57, Charles Hayes 4-47, Brad Duranty 1-21. MC- Fisher 7-149 (TD), Whitfield 5-41, Parker 3-36 (TD), Williams 2-17 (TD), Matt Swanson 2-17.
   Interceptions: Michael Dudak (Naz).

GAME 3: Carmel 21, Marian Catholic 10

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Where: 1 Carmel Parkway, Mundelein
ESCC records: Marian Catholic 1-1; Carmel 2-0.
Streaks: Spartans- 1 win; Corsairs 16 wins.
Week 2: Marian 53, St. Joseph 0; Carmel 44, Benet Academy 28.
Week 4 (7:30 p.m. Friday): Nazareth at Marian Catholic; Carmel at Notre Dame.
Last year: Carmel 37, Marian Catholic 22.
The series: The Corsairs have averaged 37 points in winning last three contests to narrow Marian´s command of the series to 9-6.
Notes: The Spartans have won six consecutive league contests on the road... Carmel´s last loss came to Mount Carmel in the 2002 IHSA state quarterfinals... The losing team in Marian´s first two contests failed to gain positive rushing yardage... Spartan graduate Rodney Harrison starts at strong safety for the defending Super Bowl champ NE Patriots.

Carmel erases early deficit to turn back Marian

   Things couldn´t have looked much better early on for Marian Catholic when it visited defending state champion Carmel for a week three East Suburban Catholic Conference battle on Friday night.
   Showing little respect for the Corsairs´ 16-game winning streak, the Spartans stunned the host crowd when they jumped to an early 10-0 lead.
   However, it only proved to be a wakeup call for Carmel, which responded with 21 unanswered points to pull away to 3-0 with a 21-10 victory.
   Marian, which will host Nazareth Academy Friday for "Decade of Champions," fell to 1-2 with the setback.
   The Spartans blitzed Carmel with a pair of early scores, capitalizing on a strong defensive effort out of the gate.
   After a Corsair three-and-out, Marian sophomore Cliffton Gordon ignited the visitors on their opening possession with a quick 30-yard scamper. Gordon eventually found the end zone first, as his 4-yard touchdown run gave Marian a 7-0 command courtesy of Noe Arroyo's conversion boot.
   The defense set up the next Spartans score as Mike Buxbaum's hit caused a fumble that was scooped up by Joe Siegert. Marian eventually increased the lead to 10-0 on a 33-yard field goal from Arroyo with 6:04 to play in the opening quarter.
   Carmel got on the board late in the opening quarter, as Tyler Ankney hit Sean McGrath with a 12-yard scoring toss.
   The Corsairs took their first lead of the contest with 11 seconds to play in the half, as Ankney used another fade pass to connect with John Coffey for a 3-yard touchdown pass. Kevin Cook's conversion boot gave Carmel a 14-10 edge at the half.
   Marian had its opportunities to do damage in the second half, but trips to the red zone resulted in some dropped passes that stifled drives.
   Carmel, however, eventually increased the margin late in the third quarter as a 20-yard scoring jaunt by Jimmy Patempa increased the lead to 21-10.
   The Spartan defensive unit held Carmel in check for the most part, holding the defending Class 6A state champs to just seven second half points. In its first two victories of the season, the Corsairs had rolled up 42 and 44 points.
   Freshmen: Marian scored 20 unanswered points to take a 20-14, but eventually surrendered a late touchdown to visiting Carmel in a 21-20 loss. A scoring run by Malcolm Allen (37 yards) and a fumble recovery by Craig James made the score 14-12 after conversions failed for Marian. However, Allen raced 64 yards for the go-ahead score and Jake Pozywio´s two-point conversion gave the Spartans a temporary 20-14 command.