There was a time over the summer when sophomore linebacker Jack Schapendonk wondered if he would even make the varsity for St. Rita.
He knew he was stepping into a program loaded with talent, so nothing was guaranteed. He was hopeful but still thought about what he could do to make an difference if he did get called up.
“I expected it a little bit,” Schapendonk said. “I knew I had to work hard in the offseason to get the opportunity so I would be on varsity.
“I go back to the summer where my coaches really helped me read the offense and where to be to make plays.”
Shapendork made a bunch of big plays on defense Saturday for the Mustangs.
He contributed two sacks and a pair of stops on fourth down, one while breaking up a pass and the other on a goal-line stand, sparking host St. Rita to a 54-34 win over Batavia in a Class 7A state semifinal in Chicago.
Schapendonk, the team’s leading tackler, turned back Batavia’s Henry Hahn just before halftime to completely flip the momentum for the Mustangs (9-4), who get a rematch with Brother Rice (12-1) at 4 p.m. Saturday for the state title at Hancock Stadium in Normal.
Steven Armbruster completed 12 of 18 passes for 229 yards and four touchdowns. He also added a 10-yard TD run. Brandon Johnson Jr. chipped in with 95 yards and a TD on 16 carries. Walter Jones added six catches for 118 yards and two TDs.
Michael Vander Luitgaren led Batavia (10-3), completing 25 of 42 passes for 308 yards with three TDs and an interception. Brett Berggren pulled in nine catches for 156 yards and a TD.
While Schapendonk took a humble approach to his offseason work, teammates saw something.
“He’s going to be a great player,” Armbruster said. “We knew that over the summer before anyone else knew it. We knew it was coming. A lot of it is his physicality and his pursuit to the ball.
“He always finds himself around the football, making plays all over the field.”
Schapendonk’s goal-line stand epitomized that skill. It was the 13th play of an 89-yard drive for Batavia, who could have cut the deficit to 21-17 with 1:14 remaining in the second quarter.
Instead, Hahn tried to break to the outside and Schapendonk wrapped him up at the ankles for a 1-yard loss. St. Rita then scored three straight TD to start the third quarter, taking over the game.
“We just came together as a team,” Schapendonk said. “We knew if we kept them out, we would have the momentum and get the ball back to our offense.”
Schapendonk pointed out that he knew what to expect thanks to St. Rita’s preparation.
“We saw that play all week on film,” Schapendonk said. “I just saw what was there and I had to go make a play. It was a huge feeling.”
Indeed, St. Rita’s defense did the job, building up a 47-10 lead before Batavia scrambled to score three late TDs.
“I said to our guys, ‘If we do our job, the offense will take care of business,’” St. Rita coach Martin Hopkins said. “You just have to be calm, communicate and everybody be on the same page.
“We had to limit their big plays.”
Sitting with a 2-4 record at one point, the Mustangs have been in playoff mode ever since. Now, a rematch with Brother Rice, who beat St. Rita 28-10 in Week 3, looms large at state.
“This is a huge win for us,” Schapendonk said. “It means a lot. I just want to be here to help my teammates, especially the seniors, so they have a chance to go win a state championship.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
