With a 36-12 win over the Carmel High School Corsairs on Oct. 25, the Fenwick Friars have capped off an impressive regular season by securing the Chicago Catholic League (CCL)/East Suburban Catholic Conference White division title.
Despite quarterback Jamen Williams getting hurt on the first snap, the Friars weren’t shaken as Frankie Hosty stepped up and went seven of fifteen passing for 211 yards leading to three touchdowns.
At the start of this year questions surrounded the Fenwick football team. After an unfortunate end to last season where the Friars just missed the playoffs, finishing 4-5, many wondered how the team would show up once fall came around.
Did the program need to make a change? Would having two capable quarterbacks be a detriment or a benefit? And could this team win enough games to make a deep run into the playoffs?
With a 7-2 record, the results speak for themselves.
“I’m really, really proud of our seniors, and proud of the team finishing strong and winning the division against a good opponent,” said Fenwick Football Coach Matthew Battaglia. “It’s been a lot of work to get to this point, and I’m excited that we get the opportunity to continue playing together.”
Fenwick is in the competitive Class 7A football bracket this postseason. But even though the stakes are raised in the playoffs, the 12th seed Friars don’t plan to deviate from what got them to where they are.
Their imposing defense is led by Fenwick’s big three of Jack Paris, Tommy Thies and Nate Marshall, who will be big threats to any opposing team’s offense. On the other side of the ball, the offensive line, senior receivers Andrew Bjorson, Emmett Romeus, and Treston Smith, and sophomore running back Jalen Morgan are all key pieces that will have a major impact on this postseason.
“We’ve achieved two of our three goals. We won our division in the CCL and we’re going to the playoffs, so goal number three [is the state title], the last one we need to check off the list. It’s really exciting because this is when the players take over,” said Battaglia. “I love these guys and I’m really excited to watch them compete because I know they’re going to have a lot of success and play with a lot of confidence and fun.”
The Fenwick Friars start their playoff campaign hosting the Brother Rice Crusaders who finished the season 6-3. They’ll be playing the 21st seed team at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 2 at Triton College.
OPRF: optimistic about future
The Oak Park and River Forest High School varsity football team concluded its season with a 48-21 loss at Glenbard West, Oct. 26. The Huskies finished 1-8 for the second consecutive year, with the only victory coming against Proviso West in Week 3.
But coach John Hoerster felt that despite having a reduced roster due to injuries, the Huskies never gave up as the season progressed.
“We were banged up all year,” he said. “We were thin to begin with and guys had to step up. Nobody made excuses or pointed fingers, and I was really proud of them.”
At Glenbard West, OPRF had a pair of outstanding efforts. Liam Smith played like a warrior, rushing for 81 yards on 19 rushes offensively and making multiple tackles defensively, while junior QB Chris Crape, who came on after both starter Johnny Nelson and backup Owen Watson left with injuries, rushed for 167 yards and two touchdowns of 74 and 50 yards respectively. He added a 25-yard touchdown pass to Mikee Vielehr.
“Chris did a great job,” Hoerster said. “He’s like a Swiss-army knife; he can play about eight different positions on the field. When we had to put him in at quarterback, I asked him what he was comfortable with and he said, “Coach, I can do whatever you need.” He’s a wonderful kid and a great athlete; the sky’s the limit for him.”
Crape, Nelson, and Smith hope to help lead a Huskies turnaround next year. Hoerster says there’s some good talent not only on the freshman and sophomore levels, but also in the youth feeder program. All of this gives Hoerster cause for optimism about the future.
“I’m telling you, if OPRF football’s a stock, I’d be buying,” he said. “I know it might not make sense to a lot of people, but I think we’re trending in the right direction. We showed some growth this year; I’m excited for what’s to come and proud of this year’s group that battled.”
