Urban Prep-Bronzeville's size causes problems for St. Edward
St. Edward tried funky formations, direct snaps and trick plays but could not overcome a distinct size disadvantage in a 24-14 Class 4A playoff loss to Urban Prep-Bronzeville at Gately Stadium in Chicago on Saturday.
No. 13 St. Edward (5-5) averaged 186 rushing yards per game during the regular season. No. 4 Urban Prep-Bronzeville (9-1) limited the Green Wave to 32 rushing yards and sacked quarterback Anthony Holte 6 times.
"They were pretty tough to move," said Nick Wright, who gained 38 yards on 19 carries. "They were some pretty big guys. They definitely outsized us."
"It was hard for the lead blockers too because the holes they were trying to get through were full," St. Edward senior Sydney Muhammad said.
Gevalier Bolton, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound junior, notched 2 sacks for the Lions. Only two players on the St. Edward roster are listed at more than 219 pounds.
"We really lost the line of scrimmage," St. Edward coach Mike Rolando said. "We were hopeful we could tire them out, find a crease, get a kid that was gassed. I think even gassed, 100 pounds a kid probably weighed on us. We never could really get a crease and get the running game going, which really puts too much stress on a passing game with a lot of young kids that haven't been in these situations before."
Holte threw for 155 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted 3 times, twice by Lions senior free safety Dejon Glover.
"We had to make sure our defensive game was solid because if they didn't score, they weren't going to win," said Glover, who has 4 interceptions this season.
The Lions will host a second-round game next week against No. 5 Marengo (8-2), a 47-20 winner over No. 12 Sullivan on Friday.
UP-Bronzeville jumped to a 16-0 first quarter lead on its first two possessions. St. Edward never drew closer than 10 points the rest of the game.
After St. Edward turned the ball over on downs, the Lions moved 64 yards in 4 plays, sparked by a 46-yard run by sophomore Dawone Johnson, who accounted for 200 of his team's 306 rushing yards. Senior Andrew Nabors made it 6-0 with a 15-yard touchdown run. Johnson's conversion extended the lead to 8-0.
The Lions took a 16-0 lead with 3:41 left in the first quarter when Glover skied for a long pass after contacting the defender. A flag was thrown for defensive pass interference, to the disbelief of the St. Edward sideline, as Glover caught the ball and waltzed to the end zone with a 47-yard scoring reception. Johnson again converted the 2-point run.
St. Edward trimmed the deficit to 16-6 with 5:53 left in the second quarter when Wright capped an 8-play, 70-yard drive with a 4-yard run.
Those were the only points St. Edward scored until two minutes remained in the fourth quarter. Trailing 24-6 after a 17-yard Glover touchdown reception and Johnson conversion run, Holte connected with senior Sydney Muhammad for a 12-yard strike.
However, the Lions picked up a first down on the ensuing possession to run out the clock on St. Edward's season, which opened with 3 straight losses. The Green Wave won 5 of their next 6 games to win the Metro Suburban Red outright and make the program's first playoff appearance in three seasons.
"We always believed what we were capable of and we made it," Wright said.
The playoff appearance was the sixth for St. Edward since 2009.
"This was one of the most fun groups to coach, one of the most bought-in groups of kids and parents and fans," Rolando said. "We were all rowing in the same direction and it makes it a lot of fun to coach. These guys gave us everything they had. Super proud of them."