Lisle claims big triumph
Lisle is smaller than Manteno in a lot of ways.
Lisle is in the Interstate Eight Conference Small Division. Manteno is in the Interstate Eight Large Division. Lisle has 500 students, 29 of whom have a roster spot on their varsity football team. Manteno has about 670 students with 36 making up its varsity football roster.
But at Benedictine University Friday night, it was the smaller school that delivered the bigger score. Lisle beat Manteno 14-7 to improve to 2-0 on the season.
A stout defense fueled the victory.
Manteno had the ball at Lisle's 4-yard line with 30 seconds remaining in the contest. An under-duress Manteno quarterback Caleb Borkenhagen forced the ball into tight coverage, finding the hands of diving Lions defensive back Jay McGrath to seal the victory for Lisle.
"Our defense is awesome, giving up 7 points to a good, pass-heavy team is amazing," McGrath said. "We all saw that there was 30 seconds left and we had two or three downs to stop them. We were sending five or six guys and we tried to do everything we could and thankfully we got the pick."
It was the second time in less than five minutes that the Lions picked off a pass with their backs up against their own end zone.
Junior back Dylan Laue spoiled a five-minute drive to begin the fourth quarter when he couldn't handle a pitch from McGrath. Two Manteno defenders quickly fell on the ball. A big passing play on the next drive brought the Panthers to the Lions' 2-yard line. But in a moment of redemption it was Laue's turn to play hero, picking off a pass on the next play to keep the Panthers out of the end zone.
"We were in goal-line defense and pressured the quarterback and he threw to us," Lisle coach Paul Parpet Sr. said.
Although the night belonged to the Lisle defense, the offense proved more balanced than a week ago when the Lions rushed for 363 yards and passed for just 41 in a win against Harvard.
McGrath, who also plays quarterback, completed 11 of his 12 pass attempts for 116 yards, including explosive pass plays of 58, 23, and 19 yards. Split among seven players, the Lions rushed for 170 yards with senior A.J. Casmer leading the way with 37 yards.
Fans of defense were happy in the first half. The first five possessions of the game resulted in a punt with very little ball movement on either side.
Until the final possession of the first half when the Lions brewed up several explosive plays. McGrath found 6-foot-5 wide receiver Jakub Kowal down the middle for a 45-yard connection that brought the Lions into Manteno territory. Later, McGrath found senior tight end Nick Martich for a 9-yard completion on third down to keep the drive alive. Fittingly, the drive culminated with another big play, as McGrath found yet another receiver Demetrius Kellie for a 23-yard connection with 23 seconds remaining in the half.
"Nothing was clicking, so we threw the ball and got two big plays which got us some momentum," McGrath said. "We got some enthusiasm as Coach Parpet would like to hear."
The two teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter. With 4:07 left, junior Demetrius King Jr. rumbled through the middle for a 26-yard touchdown, breaking several arm tackles en route. Manteno responded with a 22-yard connection from Borkenhagen to wideout Camen Rodriguez, but that was the only time they'd find the end zone against a stingy Lisle defense.
"Sometimes you need to win these types of games, I'm proud that our kids kept fighting," Parpet said. "We're going to enjoy this one and get ready for our next opponent.
Lisle matches up against perennial Interstate Eight Small Division bully Wilmington next Friday.