![ETHAN St. Rita’s Ethan Middleton rejoices with assistant coach Gus Jones after scoring his second touchdown in a 17-12 victory over Brother Rice on Friday night. Photo by Jeff Vorva](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/ETHAN-1024x678.jpg)
St. Rita’s Ethan Middleton rejoices with assistant coach Gus Jones after scoring his second touchdown in a 17-12 victory over Brother Rice on Friday night. Photo by Jeff Vorva
Pigskin Wrap: St. Rita trips up Rice
Mt. Carmel, Argo, Evergreen Park and Lyons improve to 2-0
By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
Longtime rivals St. Rita and Brother Rice had not played each other since the Chicago Catholic League merged with the East Suburban Catholic Conference.
Brother Rice is in the league’s Blue Division while St. Rita is in the Green, and what had been an annual matchup was put on hold beginning with the 2019 season. The two programs likely they won’t meet in 2023.
So, fans of both teams were able to enjoy what is now a rare battle between the two powers on Sept. 2. A defensive play by St. Rita’s Johnny Schmitt in the closing minutes helped the Mustangs to a 17-12 victory over the Crusaders at Doyle Stadium.
“It was great and it was awesome to play them,” said Schmitt, who also had an interception and stopped a two-point conversion in the game. “Those are some of my guys [at Brother Rice] and they played a great game. I have a lot of respect for them. It was just a great game.”
St. Rita coach Todd Kuska’s son, Joey, played alongside many Crusaders players at St. Linus.
“We were open and they were open and I said, ‘We have to get the game going,'” Kuska said about getting the two programs back together.
The Mustangs (1-1), who suffered a 35-3 loss to Mount Carmel in the season opener, found themselves down 6-0 to Rice (1-1) in the second quarter when junior running back Ethan Middleton ran for a 7-yard score with 5:58 left in the first half.
![Pigskin Wrap: St. Rita trips up Rice 1 JOHNNY scaled](https://www.southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/JOHNNY-scaled.jpg)
St. Rita’s Johnny Schmitt made three huge defensive plays in a 17-12 victory over Brother Rice Friday night. Photo by Jeff Vorva
“It was amazing, honestly,” Middleton said. “I was smiling and I was running around the whole field and I saw my boy [offensive lineman Collin] Gerger and I said, ‘Gerger, just lift me up.’’’
Middleton also lifted the team when he added a 28-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Jett Hilding in the third quarter.
Kicker Conor Talty added a 20-yard field goal in the fourth.
The St. Rita passing game that mustered just one yard against Mount Carmel had 98 against Brother Rice.
Schmitt’s three big defensive plays and a huge fourth-down stop by Raymone Saffold and Pat Farrell with 4:15 to play helped preserve the victory.
Brother Rice quarterback Ryan Hartz was 19 for 39 for 192 yards. Hartz found Owen Gorman for a 1-yard scoring pass with 21 secionds left in the third quarter.
Marcus Brown also made some periodic appearances under center and threw a scoring pass to Marty O’Keeffe.
Before the game, the Mustangs honored first responders and presented Chicago police officer and St. Rita alum Danny Golden with a check for $7,600 to the Danny Golden Support Fund. Golden was shot and paralyzed during an off-duty incident in Beverly in July.
St. Rita, which finished second in the state in Class 7A last year, hosts the Associated Press’s top-ranked Class 8A team, Loyola, at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Brother Rice will try to get back on the winning track when it visits Benet on Friday at College of DuPage. Benet is 1-1, with a 21-13 loss to Noblesville, Indiana, and a 24-21 victory against Moline.
![Pigskin Wrap: St. Rita trips up Rice 2 GOLDEN scaled](https://www.southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GOLDEN-scaled.jpg)
Danny Golden, a Chicago police officer who was shot in mid-July, was one of the first responders honored before Friday’s game against Brother Rice. Photo by Jeff Vorva
SXU
Saint Xavier opened the season by dropping a 57-0 decision to the NCAA Division II University of Indianapolis on the road Sept. 3.
SXU, ranked 11th in the nation in NAIA by the coaches, couldn’t put a point on the board, but senior wide receiver Justin Pringle had 53 receiving yards, 53 kick return yards and 10 rushing yards for 116 all-purpose yards.
The Cougars (0-1) host St. Thomas (Florida) at noon Saturday. The Bobcats dropped a 31-26 decision to Division I Butler on Sept. 3. C’Quan Jnopierre had seven catches for 197 yards in the loss.
Catholic League/ESCC
St. Laurence (1-1) christened the new turf at Kavanaugh Field with a 46-0 victory over Brooks in a non-conference battle. Aaron Ball had five carries for 138 yards and three touchdowns. Vinny Enoch, Corey Taubr, Danny Fitzpatrick and Nolan Ryan each found the end zone.
David Coffey gave De La Salle a jolt of confidence with punt returns of 61 and 40 yards in a 49-2 non-conference triumph over North Lawndale for coach Marty Quinn’s first victory. Myles Green has three interceptions this year, including a 59-yard pick against Lawndale.
Nazareth, which was ranked No. 1 in Class 5A by the Associated Press after beating previous No. 1 Kankakee, 2-0, in the season opener, dropped a 27-17 decision to Lemont in Week 2. Lemont entered the game ranked fourth in Class 6A.
Mount Carmel, the No. 1-ranked 7A team according to the Associated Press, whipped Phillips, 44-0.
South Suburban Conference
Argo exploded for 29 points in the first half and hung on for a 36-31 non-conference win over Bloom to go 2-0. Johnny Walker had 206 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns and Davonte Evans had a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown.
Evergreen Park topped Carver, 49-8, to move to 2-0.
Reavis (1-1) crushed Chicago Noble/Rowe-Clark 51-14.
Shepard fell to 1-1 with a 23-22 loss to Plainfield East.
Southwest Suburban Conference
Sandburg is now in an 0-2 hole heading into Friday’s rivalry game with Andrew after dropping a 15-14 game to Glenbrook South. Christian Evans fired a touchdown pass and Katrell Thompson ran for a 6-yard score.
Metro Suburban
Chicago Christian traveled to Ottawa and suffered a 41-0 defeat to Marquette.
Riverside-Brookfield dropped a 35-21 decision to Wauconda.
West Suburban Conference
Lyons improved to 2-0 with a 45-0 triumph over Addison Trail.
Morton dropped a 58-7 game to York.
Chicago Public League
Kennedy beat Kelly, 32-6, and Curie dominated Solorio, 37-0.
Bogan dropped a 27-6 game to Little Village. Schurz beat Catalyst/Maria, 14-6.
Young beat Goode, 23-0. Gage Park dropped a 64-0 decision to Lincoln-Park.
Highland Park beat Hubbard 49-0. Back of the Yards lost to Noble/Golder 26-6.
![Pigskin Wrap: St. Rita trips up Rice 3 HARTZ scaled](https://www.southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/HARTZ-scaled.jpg)
Brother Rice’s Ryan Hartz gets ready for a pass in the Crusaders’ loss to St. Rita on Sept. 2. Photo by Jeff Vorva
Local News
![tennis stock tennis stock](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Tennis-stock.jpg)
Boys Tennis State Finals | Lyons’ Jack McLane and Mason Mazzone take 2nd
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Two doubles teams from Lyons made deep runs at the IHSA Class 2A boys tennis state finals, with one of them bringing home some hardware. The boys state tennis finals were held at various sites in the north and northwest suburbs May 23-25. The Lions’ Jack McLane and Mason…
![all sports all sports](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/All-Sports.jpg)
Postseason Roundup | Area teams still alive in playoffs
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Several area baseball, softball, boys volleyball and girls soccer teams were still alive in the postseason heading into this week. Among those was two-time defending Class 3A champion Nazareth, which is competing in Class 4A this season. The Roadrunners, Brother Rice and Mount Carmel won regional titles. So did…
![PostseasonRoundup_StL The St. Laurence 400 meter relay team of Harley Rizzs, Quinton Williams, Vincent Enoch and Monroe Thompson Jr. won the 2024 state championship in 41.94, becoming the first relay team in Vikings history to win a state title. Photo courtesy of St. Laurence High School](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PostseasonRoundup_StL-1024x768.jpg)
Boys State Track Finals | St. Laurence’s Harley Rizzs wins 100m title, helps Vikings to 400m relay gold
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent St. Laurence junior Harley Rizzs was a member of the Vikings football team that earned a 2023 Class 4A state runner-up trophy the day after Thanksgiving. He bettered that two days before Memorial Day when he became the first St. Laurence track athlete to win an individual state championship.…
![GSWNH_CurtisPointstoEP_053124 Eighteenth Ward Ald. Derrick Curtis raises his right hand as he points south towards Evergreen Park to remind the audience that Pete’s has another store just a mile away. Looking on are Pete’s Fresh Market executives Stephanie and Vanessa Dremonas, as well as Emmanuel Bey (left), credited by Curtis for being a catalyst who linked him with the Dremonas family. --Greater Southwest News-Herald Photo by Steve Neuhaus](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/GSWNH_CurtisPointstoEP_053124-1024x598.png)
‘Curtis got it done’
Spread the love. Pete’s Fresh Market opens at 87/Kedzie . By Tim Hadac A grand opening that wasn’t supposed to happen…happened in Ashburn this month. For 18th Ward Ald. Derrick G. Curtis, architect of the development, it was a time of joy and nervous energy. “I didn’t get any sleep last night,” he told several…
![GSWNH_OLSLincolnTomb_052424 GSWNH_OLSLincolnTomb_052424](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/GSWNH_OLSLincolnTomb_052424-1024x537.jpeg)
Learning history is fun, honest
Spread the love Seventh and eighth graders from Our Lady of the Snows School clamor to rub the nose of a bust of President Abraham Lincoln during a field trip to Springfield earlier this month. Rubbing the nose of the famous bust of Honest Abe–a part of the tomb of the nation’s 16th President–is said…
![CRRNH_QuinnShiftingSandsStory_113022 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/CRRNH_QuinnShiftingSandsStory_113022.png)
Fight to save ShotSpotter is still alive
Spread the love. By Tim Hadac Editor Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound (708)-496-0265 . As you have read several times in the Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound, the people of Clearing and Garfield Ridge are clear in their support of keeping ShotSpotter technology deployed in Chicago, to help police fight crime. So I won’t go over old…
![GSWNH_ColdPlanerSpitsAsphalt_052424 GSWNH_ColdPlanerSpitsAsphalt_052424](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/GSWNH_ColdPlanerSpitsAsphalt_052424-1024x680.png)
63rd Street getting a facelift
Spread the love. Quinn hails federally funded resurfacing project . By Tim Hadac The old joke about there being not four seasons, but just two in Chicago each year—winter and construction—was apparent late last week as heavy equipment arrived in Clearing. As 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn and other city officials gathered for an outdoor…
![CRRNH_SilvanaTabaresOfficial_081121 23rd Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/CRRNH_SilvanaTabaresOfficial_081121-1024x1024.jpg)
Tabares blasts Foxx over ‘no seizure’ idea
Spread the love. Brands State’s Attorney as ‘pro-criminal’ . By Tim Hadac Twenty-third Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares this week blasted outgoing Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx over a possible change in how crimes are—or are not–prosecuted.Foxx recently said she is considering a plan to decline to prosecute weapons and drug crimes detected by routine…
![GSWNH_OLSPrincipal_052424 GSWNH_OLSPrincipal_052424](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/GSWNH_OLSPrincipal_052424-1024x683.jpeg)
School can get messy
Spread the love Second grader Weronika Kozielec squirts ketchup on the head of Our Lady of the Snows School Principal Christina Avis at a recent gathering in the parking lot of the school, 4810 S. Leamington. But the condiment was not all that was dumped on the principal. Students, faculty and staff laughed and cheered…
Neighbors
![reporter 6-11-24 ol eagle scout photo 6-13 Mayor Terry Vorderer presents a plaque to Michael Reising for earning Eagle Scout recognition. The award was presented during the Oak Lawn Village Board meeting June 11 night. (Photo by Joe Boyle)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/reporter-6-11-24-ol-eagle-scout-photo-6-13-1024x683.jpg)
Oak Lawn police target drivers who ignore stop signs
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Oak Lawn police are going to crack down on reckless drivers who repeatedly blow stop signs throughout the village. And police will begin enforcing those measures within the next two weeks. The subject was brought up during the Oak Lawn Village Board meeting June 11. Village Manager Tom Phelan said…
![regional 6-10-24 indigent burial2 Student volunteers from Brother Rice, St. Rita and St. Laurence assist in the
burial of 160 indigents last week at Mount Olivet Cemetery. (Photos by Nuha Abdessalam)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/regional-6-10-24-indigent-burial2-1024x768.jpg)
Volunteers from Brother Rice, St. Rita and St. Laurence help indigent on their final journey
Spread the loveBy Nuha Abdessalam Father Larry Sullivan, a director of Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Chicago and pastor of Christ the King Parish, joined County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and spoke words of love, respect, and God at the 35th annual committal service at Mount Olivet Cemetery. The service on June 6 at…
![dvn 6-14-24 riot fest lineup dvn 6-14-24 riot fest lineup](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dvn-6-14-24-riot-fest-lineup-819x1024.jpg)
Riot Fest abandons Chicago park for SeatGeek Stadium
Spread the loveBy Bob Bong Last year, Lyrical Lemonade moved its Summer Smash hip-hop music festival from Chicago’s Douglass Park to Bridgeview’s SeatGeek Stadium. Thousands of fans poured into the stadium at 7100 S. Harlem Ave. over the course of three days and, by most accounts, enjoyed the experience. Summer Smash returned to SeatGeek this…
![regional summerfest 2023 LOAFER SINGER Alyssa Blomberg of the group Ramzi and the Loafers, sings during a performance last year at Orland Park’s inaugural SummerFest. (Photo by Jeff Vorva)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/regional-summerfest-2023-LOAFER-SINGER-1024x678.jpg)
Comings & Goings: Orland Park Summerfest returns this weekend
Spread the loveBy Bob Bong Back for a second go round this weekend is the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce’s Summerfest. The event combines a carnival, live music, an array of dining options and a car show, at the 153rd Street Metra Station location in Orland Park and will run from Friday, June 14,…
![dvn 6-13-24 township repair cafe for 6-15 dvn 6-13-24 township repair cafe for 6-15](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dvn-6-13-24-township-repair-cafe-for-6-15-791x1024.png)
Repair Cafe this Saturday at Township of Lyons HQ
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Repair cafes have become quite the thing for the Township of Lyons. So much so that another repair cafe will be offered from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday, June 15, at the township office, 6404 Joliet Road in Countryside. A repair café held in May was a smashing…
![dvn 6-13-24 arturo cantu with kids Father’s Day will be especially hard for Jonathan and Kayla, children of the late Arturo Cantu, one of his sisters said. (Supplied photo)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dvn-6-13-24-arturo-cantu-with-kids.jpg)
‘They didn’t have to kill my brother’ – sister of slain Bridgeview man
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Arturo Cantu should be celebrating two big events this weekend. He would have celebrated his 40th birthday on June 14. And, a sister said, he would have enjoyed Father’s Day on Sunday, spending time with family and his two young children. Instead, 10 family members and friends gathered in a…
![dvn 2-26-24 sisto brito mugshot Sisto Brito](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/dvn-2-26-24-sisto-brito-mugshot.bmp)
‘You just learn to live with the pain’
Spread the loveStatus hearing in July for McCook murder By Steve Metsch The attorney representing a Chicago man charged with murdering a Blue Island man in McCook in February told a judge Wednesday there’s been “a significant and outstanding discovery in this matter.” Attorney Damon Cheronis made his comment before Cook County Circuit Court Judge…
![lagrange police logo lagrange police logo](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lagrange-police-logo.jpg)
Man shot in La Grange; suspect arrested in Stickney
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch A man was shot Tuesday afternoon in La Grange, according to a news release received Wednesday from the police department. A suspect has been apprehended, the release said. The shooting victim remains in stable condition at a local hospital, the release said. La Grange Police, working with the Major Case…
![Softball stock Softball stock](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/stock-softball.jpg)
Softball | Marist will play for state title for fourth straight season
Spread the loveBy Randy Whalen Correspondent Marist returned to the state title game for the fourth straight season with a 7-1 victory over Mundelein in the semifinals, held June 7 at Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria. The Mustangs (36-2) were making their first appearance at state since 1996. “We have a core group of returners,”…