St. Francis follows its offensive line to league crown

The old line is the quarterback buys his offensive line steak after a big win.

That holds for St. Francis senior Clint Bobowski. On a windy day offensive linemen Quinn Calcagno, Spencer Stibbe, Cole Cunningham, Michael Riley, John Vargyas and Kevin Killian run-blocked for the bulk of St. Francis' offense and all three touchdowns in a 21-14 win Saturday over Fenwick, played at Morton West in Berwyn.

Bobowski might also take his defense to the pastry section because those guys were all over the turnovers that got St. Francis to 7-2 overall, 3-1 in the Chicago Catholic League Green Division, tying for the league title with Montini. Marmion and Fenwick (5-4, 2-2) shared second.

"The defense played great," said Bobowski, whose third 1-yard touchdown run provided the game-winner with 3:14 left in the fourth quarter. He ran for 83 yards on 22 carries, while running back Will Purdom gained 112 yards on 23 carries and also averaged 44 yards a punt.

"We start 11 seniors," Bobowski said, "and when you get late in the season like this it all starts to matter more to everyone. We started a little slow, but defense really picked up in the second half and the offense just fed off them."

Peter Fassnacht's recovery of a muffed punt led to the Spartans' first score. Calcagno and Nate Zito each literally had a hand on an interception that prefaced the second, an odd play in which Fenwick receiver John Showel appeared to have possession. Vargyas' fourth-quarter pick turned possession over on the Spartans' winning 14-play, 72-yard touchdown drive all on run plays.

"We came in with a game plan to run the ball, obviously," said Fenwick coach Gene Nudo, who directed running back Pat Donahue to 27 carries, 101 yards and 2 first-half touchdown runs. "They're a good tempo offense, so we were trying to keep the ball away from them. But they got in their rhythm, they did their thing and we didn't."

A third interception with 1:16 to play, by Brian Marren as nose tackle Thomas Brundage was taking down Fenwick quarterback Jack Beneventi, allowed St. Francis the chance to execute the victory formation.

"Defensive line (Calcagno, Brundage, Riley) did a great job," Vargyas said. "They just always get pressure on the quarterback. It made it easy for us to get those interceptions and force those fumbles."

Turnovers led to all five touchdowns. Fenwick's Will Lattner, grandson of former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Lattner, also recovered a muffed punt that led to Donahue's first touchdown for a 7-7 tie after one quarter. The Friars' Adam Williams picked off a pass to help Fenwick post its 14-7 halftime lead.

"The kids just stayed positive," said St. Francis coach Mike Fitzgerald. "And that's something we always talk about - stay positive during times of adversity and good things are going to happen. And they did that."