The Fenwick football team opened the IHSA Class 6A state playoffs at Winnemac Stadium in Chicago on Saturday against Kennedy, which had just 29 players listed on the roster. The Friars were expected to win comfortably, and they indeed snapped a two-game losing streak with a 42-6 victory. However, despite the win, head coach Matt Battaglia wasn’t entirely satisfied afterwards.
“There was a lack of focus,” he said. “All credit to [Kennedy], they did a great job with their kids. But we have little things that need to be cleaned up. This team’s got the ability to play Thanksgiving weekend, but we’ve got to make sure we don’t get in our own way.”
Fenwick (7-3) needed only six plays to score on the game’s opening possession as Jake Thies (38 yards on 3 carries) ran in from 12 yards out. Then later in the first quarter, Rocco Nero intercepted Kennedy quarterback Alex Hernandez and raced to the house for a 40-yard pick-six.
Just 16 seconds into the second quarter, Jamen Williams (3-of-8, 53 yards) hit Raphiel Stewart for a 35-yard touchdown and a 21-0 Fenwick lead. The Friars’ next possession lasted one play, but it was a big one as Nero (78 yards on 6 carries) went off left tackle and broke free for a 54-yard score. He would add another touchdown run from two yards out with 43.8 left in the half as Fenwick took a commanding 35-0 lead at halftime.
“Equally, all of [the scores] are exciting to me,” Nero said. “A score’s a score, a touchdown’s a touchdown. Each means something special.”
The Friars played their reserves for the second half, and backup quarterback Tommy Quinn (4-of-5, 49 yards) found receiver Mikhail Ulep for a four-yard touchdown pass. The score made it 42-0 with 9:30 left in the third quarter and initiated a running clock for the remainder of the contest.
Battaglia thought it was important to get all of his players as much playing time as possible against the Crusaders.
“It’s huge,” Battaglia said. “We’ve got a lot of two-way guys. You’ve got one injury, it’s next man up, so we need to make sure we have everyone prepared for when their name is called.”
Kennedy (7-3) managed to avoid the shutout when Hernandez (13-of-20, 97 yards) hit Kavarion McCarter for a 19-yard touchdown pass with 8:30 left in the game.
On offense, Nico Scudiero had five receptions for 82 yards, and Corey Griffin and Ryan Murray had two receptions apiece as Fenwick had eight receivers catch balls. Reserve quarterback Myles Hill also saw playing time and completed seven of his nine passes for 86 yards.
Defensively, Zikomo Mbewe had two sacks and Jack O’Malley, Ed O’Neill, and Aiden Williams each posted tackles for loss for the Friars, who held Kennedy to 97 yards of offense, including a net rushing total yardage of zero.
Fenwick will host Rolling Meadows in a second-round game at Triton College, Nov. 8, at 1 p.m. The Mustangs upset host Riverside-Brookfield 29-23 in their first-round game as quarterback Joe Brigham threw for 197 yards and a touchdown and Keeling Murray rushed for 144 yards in the second half, including a 68-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter that proved to be the difference.
“They’re a good, physical team that plays in a tough conference (Mid-Suburban League),” Battaglia said, “and we know that they’re not going to be shy playing Fenwick. They don’t care who we are, so they’re going to come out and want to get after us.”
“From here on out, nothing’s easy,” Nero said. “We’re going to come in, play our brand of football, and see how it goes.”
The fact that the Friars will play at Triton for the first time since a 48-7 victory over Benet on Oct. 10 is appreciated.
“I’m really glad to get the seniors another opportunity to play at home and take care of business so they can hopefully get one more,” Battaglia said.
“Home games are great,” Nero said. “You’ve got your home crowd and student section. It’s going to be fun.”