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Brother Rice blows out Montini

A fast-moving second-half clock and a magnanimous football coach were about the only allies Montini had Friday night in Chicago.

In a Chicago Catholic League crossover game against Brother Rice, the Broncos stood little chance against opposing quarterback Dino Borelli and the game-breaking skill players he had at his disposal.

The Brother Rice senior was a second-quarter incompletion away from perfection in the Crusaders' 42-7 victory.

Borelli was 14 of 15 through the air for 6 touchdowns and 328 yards in the Crusaders' one-sided victory.

"They were nice to us," Montini coach Chris Andriano said of Brother Rice counterpart Brian Badke. "They could have easily scored 70 points on us."

Scoring on all half-dozen first-half possessions, Borelli had all but 11 of his passing yards in the first two quarters.

Half of his 6 touchdown passes went to wide receiver Ricky Smalling, who totaled 166 yards on the three scores alone.

"We could not keep up with their speed," Andriano said. "We were a step slow all night."

The entire second half was played with a continuously moving clock after Branden Houston hauled in a 30-yard strike from Borelli less than two minutes before halftime.

With an insurmountable 42-0 lead at halftime, the Brother Rice backfield and receivers went to the pines four plays into the second half.

"We practiced (our passing attack) all week," said Borelli, who completed all 8 first-quarter attempts for 207 yards. "It worked in the game. (Smalling) is the easiest (receiver) to go to."

Montini (1-3) was without the services of starting quarterback Bradley Norgle and standout halfback Prince Walker.

Andriano fears Walker is lost for the season.

The most positive aspects for Montini against the undefeated Crusaders (4-0) came long after the game was decided.

The Broncos' Matthrew Quaglia intercepted the Crusaders' reserve quarterback midway through the third.

The quarterbacking duo of Matthew Morrissey and Nicholas Orlando provided Montini its lone score.

Morrissey had the Broncos' longest play from scrimmage - a 31-yard pass to Thomas Morrissey - on the opening play of the fourth quarter.

On fourth-and-2 from the Crusaders' 4-yard line, Orlando bootlegged in to cap the 13-play drive.

"I can't remember," Andriano said when asked the last time Montini was two games below .500.

But the defending state champion Broncos might have a tough time making the playoffs.

"Our backs are against the wall," Andriano said. "We have to find ourselves."

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