Big plays lift Benet to victory

Sometimes you just know something good is about to happen.

That's the feeling Benet receiver Rob Bordignon had as he lined up at his own 36-yard line with six minutes to play and the Redwings trailing visiting Marist by 3 points.

Bordignon's premonition came true when he hauled in a Jack Sznajder pass at midfield, faked out one defender then sprinted down the sideline for a 64-yard touchdown and the eventual winning points in a hard-fought and entertaining 29-25 East Suburban Catholic Conference victory over the RedHawks in Lisle.

"I saw how the defense was lining up, Jack made a great throw, I made one move and then it was off to the races," Bordignon said.

The play was one that Benet coach Pat New thought would work, but he had refrained from calling it after the first quarter as he waited for the proper moment.

"It's a play we really like," he said. "We weren't thinking touchdown, but Jack Sznajder is really good throwing it and Rob made a great play with it."

The play that set up Bordignon's decisive score was set up by a guy who isn't actually used to catching the ball. Benet defensive lineman Pat O'Meara stepped in front of screen pass by Marist's Brendan Skalitzky at the Redwings 15 and returned it to the 36. The interception prevented Marist (3-2, 2-1) from building on its 25-22 lead, which was established when Skalitzky hit running back Darshon McCullough with a 55-yard scoring pass with 10 minutes to play.

Bordignon's score accounted for the last of four lead changes in the game. Benet (3-2, 2-1) actually led 13-3 early in the second quarter courtesy of Bordignon's 7-yard TD catch and Alec McEachern's 1-yard run, which were sandwiched around Owen Sheeran's 32-yard field goal for Marist. McCullough's 3-yard run was answered by Ryley Guay's 27-yard field goal before the RedHawks grabbed a 17-16 halftime lead courtesy of Skalitzky's 45-yard scoring toss to Liam Keffer 13 seconds before the break.

After a scoreless third quarter, McEachern capped a 13-play Benet drive with his second 1-yard plunge, this time on a fourth-down play. Forty seconds later, however, McCullough was sprinting to the end zone to put Marist ahead, which set the stage for Bordignon's heroics.

"This was a game of momentum and give Benet credit, they made the plays when they had to," said Marist coach Pat Dunne. "That was a quick score at the end; their kid made a great catch and a great run."

Sznajder shook off 3 interceptions to throw for 343 yards and two scores with Bordignon having 8 catches for 172 yards, while McCullough paced Marist with 84 yards rushing, 113 receiving and an 80-yard kickoff return to finish with 277 total yards.