IC Catholic Prep wins playoff opener
IC Catholic Prep forces opponents to pick their poison.
“Our offense, we've got so many options,” Knights quarterback Luke Ricobene said, “so we just run something until they adjust to one and then we run the other until they adjust back, and we just keep on flipping and running. They can't guard everything.”
Winnebago couldn't and on defense IC pretty much did in a 45-7 Class 3A first-round victory Friday at Lewis Stadium in Elmhurst. No. 3 seed IC Catholic (9-1) advances to play the winner of Saturday's game between No. 11 DePaul College Prep and No. 6 Elmwood-Brimfield.
“We like to run perimeter option and things like that, but we could see early on it was tough treading,” said coach Mark Helm of No. 14 seed Winnebago (5-5).
“We'd get the pitch out and they'd run us down and stuff,” he said. “It wasn't one particular aspect of the game, it was I felt like they were really ready to go and they played fast, much faster than we did.”
IC's usual opponents might feel good with star running back Jordan Rowell's 3 first-half carries for 11 yards. Winnebago still trailed 28-7 at halftime.
Rowell finished with 102 yards and touchdown runs of 6 and 43 yards and impacted the first half on a 56-yard punt return that with Sam Buffo's kick gave IC a 7-0 lead just 2:20 into the game.
“We kind of knew that special teams was going to play a huge part of the game,” said IC coach Bill Krefft, who earned his second playoff victory, IC's first since 2012.
“Every big game that you play in special teams has got to change field position, we've got to make sure that we're consistent, have ball security, and then having the luxury of having Jordan Rowell back returning kicks is nice, too.”
Nice too were Ricobene's 3 first-half touchdown passes, 29- and 30-yarders to Pat Jordan and a 13-yard flare to Garrett Cheng 35 seconds before the half.
“Going into this week we had to see what they gave us and they were packing it in on Jordan, so Luke delivered some great balls, the offensive line gave him time and he was able to get it to us,” said Jordan, who caught 5 passes for 117 yards. Ricobene was 14 of 19 passing for 196 yards.
The Cheng touchdown countered Winnebago's sole score, quarterback Jess Smith's 2-yard hesitation draw play on fourth down.
In general IC defenders such as Anthony Silva, Jim Kenneally and freshman nose tackle Kemon Reese contained the quintet of Smith, Austin Leitzinger, Jace Warkentien, Nathan Alldritt and Justin Whitehouse to 104 yards rushing. IC recovered 2 fumbles and Pat Guinan snagged an interception.
“It was everything how we practiced it and got ready for the game,” Reese said.