Playing a nearly flawless first half, No. 3 Providence blasted No. 12 Joliet Catholic 41-0 before a standing-room crowd of nearly 6,000 in New Lenox.
Providence (12-0), last year’s 6A champion and winner of 26 games in a row, will be on the road for next week’s semifinal against either Morris (11-0) or Rochelle (11-0).
Mighty-mite 5-foot-7-inch running back Clay Cleveland rushed for 209 yards and four touchdowns, including breakaways of 46 and 43 yards. Nick Stanton was 8-of-14 passing for 162 yards and two TDs.
This was the worst playoff defeat in Joliet Catholic’s proud history. The previous low was a 28-0 loss to Wheaton Central in 1988. In September, the Hilltoppers had lost to Providence 10-2.
Cleveland’s final TD, an 8-yard run with 3 minutes 26 seconds left in the third quarter, set off a running clock. At that moment, Joliet Catholic (9-3) had 27 yards total offense.
“During practices I’d have my fantasy moments,” said Providence coach Matt Senffner. “But 41-0? Whew. This was one of the best and most complete games in Providence history. I told the kids that once we got the clock running, I was confident.”
Cleveland’s a down-to-earth guy, and not just because he’s built so close to the ground.
“It was our defense that kept giving us the momentum,” he said. “They’d set us up with great field position. My linemen blocked well, and so did our receivers downfield.”
Just as the Celtics partisans were elbowing their way into vantage points, Andy Hopkins converted a 22-yard field goal five minutes into the game.
With 3:44 left in the first quarter, Cleveland broke loose on the 46-yarder to make it 9-0. On its next possession, Joliet Catholic QB Ryan Quigley was sacked by Mike Stephens, who forced a fumble recovered by Brian Peterson. Two plays later, Cleveland was off on his 43-yarder, thanks to a crunching block by Jeremy Gaughan.
On the next Celtics possession, Stanton hooked up with Tony Vlahovic on a 44-yard TD pass. Just before halftime, Stanton hit tight end Dan Bland for a 34-yarder for a score.
“Nothing has ever been sweeter than beating Joliet Catholic twice in a season,” said linebacker Marty Marino. “Even winning a state championship doesn’t compare to this.”
Joliet’s Ross Crampton, slowed by a knee injury that kept him out of practice all week, had rushed for just 25 yards before the running clock. That and Quigley’s inability to loosen up the Celtics’ defense with a passing game contributed to the defending 5A champion’s downfall.
