After narrowly missing out on the state playoffs last fall, the Fenwick High School football team has been highly motivated for the past 11 months to close the deal.
It was mission accomplished as the Friars punched their ticket to this year’s IHSA playoffs with a 42-7 rout of Benet Academy in Lisle, Oct. 11.
“We’ve still got some things to clean up on,” said Fenwick coach Matt Battaglia, “but [Benet] was a full team victory. We had a good feeling we’d be in with five victories, but getting the sixth takes a lot of pressure off.”
It didn’t take long for Fenwick (6-1) to take control. After the defense got a three-and-out to start the game, the offense went to work as Jamen Williams threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Bjorson. Nate Marshall’s subsequent two-point conversion run made the score 8-0 Friars.
In the second quarter, Fenwick poured it on thanks to two field goals from Noah Sur and two touchdown runs from Jalen Morgan (15 carries, 121 yards). The Friars led at the half 28-0, then initiated a running clock in the third quarter with two more scores, including a 10-yard pass from Williams to Bjorson.
Defensively, Fenwick was stout. Marshall – who will play in the 2025 All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas in January – and Jack Paris had multiple tackles; Marshall also notched a pair of sacks and a fumble recovery. Henry Flueke and Tommy Thies each forced a fumble as the Friars had three takeaways.
With a postseason berth secured, Battaglia said Fenwick will focus on fine-tuning its game. But he also knows the Friars can’t afford to ease up, especially with a challenging finish to the regular season still ahead of them.
“The reality is that we can enjoy this victory for just 24 hours, and then we’ve got to get ready for the next opponent,” Battaglia said.
In this case, the next opponent is a doozy – defending Class 7A champion Mount Carmel. Kickoff is set for Oct. 18, 7:30 pm, at Triton College.
The Caravan (5-2), which has won 15 state championships – tied for most all-time with Joliet Catholic – is led by senior quarterback Jack Elliott, who is verbally committed to Vanderbilt University.
“Every week in the [Chicago Catholic League] is a challenge,” Battaglia said. “Mount Carmel is a great program that’s well-coached, but to be honest, it’s about ourselves.”
BOYS BASKETBALL
Fenwick senior Kamren Hogan, who is entering his fourth season on the varsity boys basketball team, announced on X Oct. 11 a verbal commitment to Rockford University, an NCAA Division III institution. Hogan chose Rockford over offers from Carthage, Central in Iowa and St. Norbert.