It has often been said in football that offense wins games, but defense wins championships. This was proven yet again in an IHSA Class 7A first-round playoff game at Triton College, Nov. 2, as the Fenwick High School defense came up with multiple big plays in a 12-7 victory over Brother Rice.
“It’s great coaching, great players, great leadership,” said Fenwick coach Matt Battaglia of his defense. “That’s really what it comes down to. We’ve got some really good players upfront. They all believed and were on the same page together; they wanted to win.”
Fenwick (8-2) stopped Brother Rice (6-4) twice on downs in the first quarter. An interception by Jake Thies ended the Crusaders’ first drive, and a sack by Aiden Burns and Michael Murphy ended their second, both inside Fenwick territory.
Noah Sur’s 41-yard field goal, 13 seconds into the second quarter, gave the Friars a 3-0 lead. But after the teams exchanged defensive stops, a 61-yard punt return by KJ Morris gave Rice excellent field position on the Fenwick 13 yard line. Six plays later, CJ Gray scored on a 1-yard QB keeper to the left, giving the Crusaders a 7-3 lead with 4:58 to go in the first half.
But with :34 left in the half, the Friars’ defense came up with a huge play. Burns and Patrick Gilboy applied intense pressure on Gray and forced a fumble that Gilboy recovered on the Rice 40. On the next play, Frankie Hosty, making his first start since Week 1, found Andrew Bjorson (three receptions, 48 yards) for a 39-yard completion to the Crusaders 1.
After an incomplete pass, Nate Marshall came in at QB in the Wildcat formation. He took the snap ran up the middle, and stretched the ball toward the goal line. Although the ball was knocked out, the officials signaled touchdown, giving Fenwick a 10-7 halftime lead.
“Once I got to the line of scrimmage and there were people under me, I had no choice but to reach over,” Marshall said. “The guy tried to slap the ball out, but I knew I had scored.”
“It definitely changed the game,” said Hosty, who finished 13-of-29 passing for 167 yards, filling in for Jamen Williams, injured the previous week against Carmel. “My line was great all day and it’s good we connected on some shots and did everything we could to get the win.”
In the third quarter, Sur had a 37-yard field goal attempt blocked. But as the defenses stiffened for both teams, his punts would loom large down the stretch.
Another major factor was Jack Paris. Normally a standout linebacker, the senior occasionally played as a Wildcat quarterback and picked up several key first downs.
Fenwick quarterback Frankie Hosty looks to pass against Brother Rice in an IHSA Class 7A first-round football playoff game at Triton College, November 2. The Friars prevailed 12-7 to move on to the second round at Downers Grove North, November 9. | Courtesy of Fenwick’s Michelle Heinrichs 
Fenwick’s Aiden Burns (#32) celebrates after sacking Brother Rice quarterback CJ Gray (#4) to end a first-quarter drive in an IHSA Class 7A first-round football playoff game at Triton College, November 2. The Friars prevailed 12-7 and moved on to the second round at Downers Grove North, November 9, at 1 pm. | Courtesy of Michelle Heinrichs 
Fenwick’s Nate Marshall keys in on Brother Rice QB CJ Gray in an IHSA Class 7A first-round football playoff game at Triton College, Nov. 2. The Friars prevailed 12-7 to advance to the second round at Downers Grove North. | Credit: Scott Hardesty of Fenwick 
Fenwick wide receiver Emmett Romeus makes a catch against Brother Rice defensive back Donovan Moody in an IHSA Class 7A first-round football playoff game at Triton College, November 2. The Friars defeated the Crusaders 12-7 to advance to a second-round game at Downers Grove North, November 9, at 1 pm. | Courtest of Fenwick’s Scott Hardesty 
Fenwick’s Patrick Gilboy (#3) and Aiden Burns (#32) sack Brother Rice quarterback CJ Gray (#4), causing a fumble which was recovered by Gilboy during an IHSA Class 7A first-round football playoff game at Triton College, November 2. The Friars prevailed 12-7 to move on to the second round at Downers Grove North, November 9, at 1 pm. | Courtesy of Fenwick’s Michelle Heinrichs
“I told coach I want the rock,” said Paris (21 yards on eight carries). “I used to quarterback when I was younger, so I know how to run.”
Midway through the final quarter, Sur booted a 45-yard punt that was downed by the Friars at the Rice two-yard line. Then with less than two minutes left, his 41-yard punt rolled dead at the Crusaders’ 6.
“He has been doing that all year,” Battaglia said. “He’s been netting over 50 yards per punt and is a huge weapon, especially when you play teams like this. We knew points were going to be hard to come by; Noah is a stud.”
Sur’s second big punt set up the game’s final scoring. On first down, Gray scrambled looking to escape pressure from Burns, Murphy and Henry Fluecke. They forced him to step out of bounds in the back of his end zone, resulting in a safety with 1:47 remaining.
“Our d-line got after it every play,” Paris said. “The brotherhood we have on defense … if we’re all on the same page, it’s pretty hard to beat us.”
Rice had no timeouts left, so when Fenwick regained possession following the free kick, they ran out the clock.
“We knew this was going to be one of our toughest games,” Battaglia said. “[Brother Rice] is a really talented team … it doesn’t get easier [next week].”
Fenwick visits 2023 7A runner-up Downers Grove North for the second round, with kickoff set for Nov. 9 at 1 p.m.