After last year’s 106-point playoff contest, fans expected another offensive eruption during Joliet Catholic’s Class 5A battle against Riverside-Brookfield.
But the rematch came down to defense and the kicking game as Joliet Catholic’s Ty Foley drilled a 47-yard field goal as time expired Friday to propel the hosts to a 10-7 victory at Memorial Stadium in Joliet.
“I got the call and I knew I could make it,” said Foley, who less than a minute earlier missed a 41-yard attempt wide left. “I didn’t feel any pressure at all.”
Joliet Catholic’s defense, which featured a three-man rush against R-B’s vaunted five-wide receiver set, stood up to the challenge and limited the Bulldogs (7-4) to a season low in points and passing yards (164).
“You could tell the defenses worked hard all week because they both showed up tonight,” said Joliet Catholic coach Dan Sharp, whose team collected four sacks and three interceptions. “With the way the defenses were playing, I just wanted to grind the clock.
“This was a barn-burner, but only of the defensive kind.”
Joliet Catholic (9-2) moved the ball effectively against R-B but became its own worst enemy, fumbling six times–losing two. Trailing 7-0 at the half, Joliet Catholic switched from its winged formation to a straight-T formation.
The move paid off as R-B defenders were left guessing which Hilltopper would carry the ball. The Hilltoppers marched down the field when they moved 81 yards in 17 plays for the tying score. Ross Crampton (28 carries, 162 yards) carried the brunt of the workload, gaining 69 yards on 11 touches before plowing in from the 1-yard line with 4:15 remaining in the third quarter.
After forcing R-B to go three-and-out, Joliet Catholic overwhelmed the Bulldogs again, using its ground game to set up first-and-goal at the 6. But Joliet Catholic fumbled and R-B’s Matt Scumaci was there for the recovery.
Quarterback Britt Davis (16-of-34, 164 yards) moved the Bulldogs with his running, scampering 47 yards on six carries before putting R-B on Joliet Catholic’s 41-yard line with less than seven minutes left. But the drive stalled there after a sack by Chris Jeske, an incomplete pass and short gain by Davis.
Joliet Catholic had the best chance to win the game in regulation when the Hilltoppers moved inside R-B’s 19. But a 5-yard loss on a Crampton run preceded Foley’s field-goal miss.
The Hilltoppers held R-B on its next possession and found themselves on the Bulldogs’ 30-yard line with five seconds left after a poor punt and an 11-yard pass completion by Ryan Quigley. With the wind to his back, Foley connected for the game-winner.
Joliet Catholic beat R-B 56-50 in last year’s showdown.
