Fenwick throttles Marmion
Marmion's transition to the Chicago Catholic League hit another bump Friday as a strong first quarter against visiting Fenwick didn't last in what became a 49-13 loss.
Marmion (4-2, 1-1 in the Chicago Catholic League Green Division) used a pair of Connor Hoeft field goals to lead 6-0 after the first quarter.
The rest of the night belonged to Fenwick (4-2, 2-0), who outscored Marmion 21-0 in the second quarter to lead 21-6 at halftime, then for good measure won the second half 28-7.
"Obviously I didn't have us prepared for the intensity required for Catholic Leauge football," Marmion coach Dan Thorpe said. "Two weeks in a row a butt-kicking (counting Providence in Week 4). Offensively we had some opportunities but we didn't execute in the first half. But I don't know if it would have made a difference. We didn't stop them all night."
One of the few stops came early when Fenwick's Iowa-bound quarterback, Benet transfer Jake Beneventi, threw an interception to Noel Abraham who returned the ball to Fenwick's 30. The Cadets didn't move far but got Hoeft in position for a 30-yard field goal.
Two personal foul penalties and a third-down completion from Rusty Joyce to Reilly Dougherty keyed Marmion's next drive, capped by Hoeft's 31-yard field goal and a 6-0 lead going to the second quarter.
"First quarter was not pretty," Fenwick coach Gene Nudo said. "It was like we were helping them celebrate their homecoming."
Pat Donahue got the Cadets on the board early in the second quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run, which followed a 40-yard strike from Beneventi to Patrick Honan, to put the Friars ahead for good.
Marmion had two snaps get away that led to big losses and a short field for Fenwick, and Donahue broke a 48-yard scoring run on Fenwick's next offensive play to put the Friars up 13-6. Donahue's third touchdown run of the quarter gave Fenwick its 21-6 halftime lead.
"We were moving the ball pretty well first quarter," Joyce said. "I thought the momentum was good. Things just didn't go our way from there."
Will Lattner opened the second half with a 97-yard kick return, then Marmion fumbled the ensuing kick. Adam Williams finished the short drive with a 1-yard plunge, putting Fenwick firmly in command up 35-6 with 9:29 left in the third quarter.
"We said the first three minutes would be vital. We have come from behind before," Thorpe said. "They beat us all aspects of the game. I was surprised they moved the ball on us and I was surprised we didn't run the ball better. So either I underestimated them or overestimated us in the offensive and defensive lines. When you get beat this bad and when you play this effortless that's on me."
Marmion got on the board in the third quarter on Nate Traxler's 7-yard touchdown run. Fenwick scored two more times in the fourth.
"It was a very good offensive game for us," Nudo said.
Beneventi completed 11 of 13 passes for 123 yards while Donahue rushed for 129 yards as Fenwick outgained Marmion 302-218 and won the turnover battle 3-1. Joyce completed 10 of 22 passes for 119 yards, and Lucas Warren led Marmion's rushers with 55 yards.
"It's great competition but we are just as good if not better than all these teams," Joyce said. "I'm just embarrassed by tonight. I think we could have beat Fenwick. We have to win two of the next three games to be in the playoffs and that's what we plan on doing."