| JCA looks to avoid speed bump at Cahokia |
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Speed on speed.
That is what is brewing for Saturday's Class 5A football second-round playoff matchup between Joliet Catholic Academy and Cahokia, one of nine weekend games involving area teams.
JCA is young but extremely quick in the skill positions, and the Hilltoppers' defense has the ability to get to the ball carrier in a hurry.
Cahokia is fast all the way around. After the Comanches blanked East Peoria 30-0 last week, East Peoria coach Doug Martin was asked by a reporter from the Belleville News-Democrat about the difference in the game. "That speed on both sides of the ball," he responded. "It's hard to play against, and hard to coach against, speed."
JCA opened the playoffs rushing for 498 yards in a 48-7 victory over Troy Triad at Memorial Stadium. Although located in a similar geographic area as Cahokia, Triad plays in a different conference. It is no secret that this week's game represents a step up in competition for the Hilltoppers.
Still, Triad was not with its playoff qualifications, and the Knights simply were whipped.
"I thought we would be able to move to ball better," Triad coach Paul Bassler told me afterward. "We had no first downs until late in the game -- that killed us. We needed to move the chains."
Bassler said his team had a great week of practice. "I thought we were ready to roll," he said.
But then, the pregame.
"When we were just about ready for the kickoff, I could see my kids had that glazed look in their eyes," Bassler added. "Then they scored twice right off the bat in the first quarter (on long runs by senior fullback Jordan Lyles and junior wingback Josh Ferguson)."
With the dominating manner the JCA defense was performing, it was over that quickly. "We talked all week about wanting to get on them early," Hilltoppers coach Dan Sharp said. "They're an option team, and option teams usually don't play as well from behind."
Cahokia will be a more difficult challenge. For one thing, the Comanches throw the ball effectively, and that's an area of concern for the Hilltoppers.
Comanches senior quarterback Patrick Ivy and his brother, sophomore receiver-linebacker Lamontiez Ivy) were doubtful participants against East Peoria because their stepfather passed away last week. But play they did. Patrick Ivy completed 13-of-22 passes for 203 yards and 2 touchdowns, and he ran for another score.
Cahokia's only loss was 20-6 to Sacred Heart-Griffin in a highly competitive Week 9 matchup. If you feel there is any shame in losing to Sacred Heart-Griffin, you have not been paying attention. Any team that can give the Cyclones all they want does not figure to be intimidated by JCA or its tradition.
In addition, the Hilltoppers will be making the long trip this weekend, with kickoff set for 2 p.m. Saturday. The early portion of the game is likely to say plenty about how it eventually plays out.
"I'm confident about us playing on the road," standout linebacker Jake Stockman said. "We've played good teams on the road -- Providence, Marist, Marian -- and I think we have a pretty good routine. We'll get in early, have Mass and then get on the bus."
Still, you always figure playing at home is worth something.
Even when you consider all of that, however, the JCA team that ripped through Triad is capable of surviving Saturday and perhaps delivering state championship No. 14.
Yes, there could have been more consistency on offense against Triad, but when you break that many long runs, consistency is difficult to develop. Ferguson alone had runs from scrimmage of 64, 14, 16, 23, 22, 41 and 29 yards. He finished with 214 yards in 9 carries.
His moves in the open field are Devin Hester-like. Sharp called him "a human Madden game," with good reason.
"It's instinctive once I get past the linebackers," Ferguson said of his seemingly effortless yet elusive running style. "When our line blocks well, these are the results that we will get. If we keep playing like this, I think we can have a great run."
Lyles finished with 119 yards in 12 carries Saturday and sophomore Malin Jones chipped in with 86 in 15 carries. Freshman Ty Isaac added the exclamation point with a 54-yard TD run and finished with 64 yards in 5 carries.
Penalties show up at times, and turnovers have been an issue during the season. But the Hilltoppers did not turn the ball over against Triad. A repeat against Cahokia would mean a giant red check in the positive column.
Make no mistake, Cahokia has speed. But if the JCA offensive line -- center Matt Dollinger, guards Nick Schillaci and Kyle Rouse, tackles Dan Foreman and Greg Deatrick and tight ends Andrew Elliott and Alex Kolodziej -- has a good afternoon at the office, the Comanches' defense may be chasing that Hilltopper speed down the field.
Catching it is a chore.
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