Last week, Fenwick football coach Matt Battaglia wasn’t happy despite a 42-6 IHSA Class 6A first-round victory over Kennedy because he felt his team showed a lack of energy and focus. He felt much better after the Friars’ 45-7 second-round rout of Rolling Meadows at Triton College, Nov. 8.
“The boys really did a great job. It was our best week of practice of the season, and it really translated today,” Battaglia said. “A lot of the credit on the scoreboard goes to the way the two’s and three’s worked to give us the best look possible and make the whole team better.”
Junior Jake Thies has been one of several two-way players for Fenwick this season. Lately, the majority of his time has been spent on the offensive side of the ball at running back, and against Rolling Meadows he turned in a splendid performance, rushing for 151 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries and adding another touchdown with his only pass reception.
“O-line played really good,” Thies said. “It was easy for me. We had our best week of practice this week, so nothing that we did on the field surprised me.”
Fenwick (8-3) started the game in perfect fashion. After the defense notched a three-and-out, the offense went 52 yards in nine plays for the game’s first score, a four-yard touchdown run by Thies, at the 6:43 mark of the first quarter.
On the next possession, Fenwick defensive end Mike Murphy came up with a huge play as he forced Rolling Meadows running back Luke Harvey to fumble and recovered the ball at the Mustangs’ 25.
“The running back bounced [outside] and I put my helmet on the ball. It came out and I got lucky as it went right into my hands,” Murphy said.
The offense stalled on the ensuing drive, however, and Noah Sur came on for a 32-yard field goal attempt, which was good to raise the Friars’ lead to 10-0.
Rolling Meadows got rolling offensively on its next drive as it marched into Fenwick territory. But on 4th and 14 from the 20, Fenwick defensive back Aiden Williams tackled Mustangs’ receiver Matthew Sansonetti at the 7 – a yard short of a first down – resulting in a turnover on downs.
“We had to be strong, hit hard, know what we were doing, and keep everyone accountable,” said Williams, who finished with six tackles.
his stop paid dividends as on the first play of the second quarter, Jamen Williams (11-of-15, 219 yards, 2 TD) hit Thies in the left flat with a short pass. Thies eluded a pair of tackles and broke free for a 50-yard touchdown and a 17-0 lead.
The Friars’ defense again stopped Rolling Meadows on downs at its 29 on the next possession, then the offense went 71 yards on seven plays for another score – a Williams eight-yard run. Murphy came up big again as, on the Mustangs’ next possession, he intercepted a pass tipped by fellow lineman Zikomo Mbewe at the Fenwick 48.
“I was just in the right spot at the right time,” Murphy said. “It was pretty high in the air, so I had time to get over there. I just had to go up and high-point it.”
Five plays later, Thies went in from 18 yards out to give Fenwick a 31-0 halftime lead. Cameron Garrett returned the second-half kickoff 78 yards to set up Thies’ fourth touchdown of the day, a 21-yard run. On Fenwick’s next drive, Williams found Raphiel Stewart for a 23-yard touchdown that made it 45-0 and mandated a running clock for the rest of the game.
Rolling Meadows (7-4) broke up Fenwick’s shutout bid as Keeling Murray scored on a 65-yard run with 11:10 to play.
Fenwick returns to Triton College, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m., for a 6A quarterfinal against Burlington Central, a 24-14 winner over Harlem in its second-round game.
“We’ve got to have an amazing practice week and lock in,” Williams said.
“It feels great to have another week with the Fenwick [football] family. Every week could be our last so we’ve got to go hard,” Murphy said.