Brother Rice QB Ryan Hartz, shown passing in a game earlier this season, accounted for four touchdowns against Marian Catholic in a game leading up to Friday's showdown with Marist. Photo by Jeff Vorva
Pigskin Wrap: Brother Rice and Marist ready for Battle of Pulaski
By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
The stage is set.
The annual grudge match between neighborhood and conference rivals Marist and Brother Rice takes place at 7 p.m. Friday at Rice.
Both teams are 5-3 overall and 0-2 in the East Suburban Catholic/Chicago Catholic League Blue, with both teams falling to Loyola and Mount Carmel in league pay.
But they are both strong and, judging by the playoff points they have accumulated (opponents’ combined wins) they are almost assured a spot in the postseason, but there is still a lot of meaning to this game. Pride is on the line as well as going into the playoffs with some steam and a higher seed.
Brother Rice, which has a 23-18 lead in the series, comes in with a two-game winning streak including a 42-7 win over Marian Catholic on Oct. 14. Quarterback Ryan Hartz threw for 227 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two scores. Randall Nauden ran for 75 yards in the victory.
Marist also comes in with a two-game winning streak after beating Carmel, 44-30, on Oct. 14. Senior Chris Lofgren ran for 114 yards and two touchdowns. Marc Coy added 42 yards and a pair of scores.
CCL/ESCC
Nazareth dug itself a hole opening the season 1-3, but could climb out of it Friday. The Roadrunners (4-4) beat Montini, 42-7, in a crossover on Oct. 14 and visit Benet (4-4), with the winner earning postseason eligibility and an almost certain playoff berth. With 46 playoff points based on opponents’ wins, the Roadrunners should make the postseason field if they win.
Justin Taylor ran for two touchdowns and caught a pass for another score for in the win over Montini. Sophomore quarterback Logan Malachuk threw for 176 yards and Alexander Angulo ran for 109 yards on 20 carries.
St. Laurence (3-5) lost its chance of making the playoffs after suffering a 28-10 crossover loss to Niles Notre Dame. Harley Rizzs ran for 87 yards, including a 63-yard touchdown run.
De La Salle (1-7) dropped its sixth game in a row, a 40-29 setback to Hope Academy. Kenyonte Louis ran for 110 yards for the Meteors. Angelo Chavarria had a blocked punt return for a touchdown and added a fumble recovery for another score.
High five for SXU
Saint Xavier, ranked 16th in the nation by the NAIA coaches, rung up its fifth straight win on Oct. 15 with a 31-13 victory over Missouri Baptist in the Mid-States Football Association Midwest game at Deaton Field.
Freshman running back Mario Price, who moved from wide receiver after a series of Cougars’ running back injuries, ran for 59 yards and caught four passes for 25 yards including his first college touchdown.
Senior linebacker Joey Markasovic ran an interception back for a touchdown for the Cougars (5-2, 3-0).
SXU visits Trinity International University in Deerfield at 1 p.m. Saturday.
South Suburban Red
Richards (5-3, 5-0) clinched at least a share of the league title with a 41-20 victory over crosstown rival Oak Lawn (1-7, 0-6). The Bulldogs have scored 41 or more points in each of their last three Red wins.
Reavis (5-3) is in the playoff picture after a 49-8 crossover victory over winless T.F. North, but needs a win over Richards this week to seal the deal. Should the Rams lose and go 5-4, their criteria of playoff points via opponents wins (currently 30 points) puts them in a currently gray area.
Evergreen Park (6-2, 4-1) sealed a playoff spot with a 33-14 victory over Eisenhower. If the Mustangs can pull off a victory over Argo on Friday, they can put themselves in a good position to host a first-round playoff game.
Metro Suburban Red
The long trip was worth is as Chicago Christian (4-4) kept its playoff hopes alive with a 49-0 non-conference victory over Phelan Leadership Academy (Indianapolis). A win at Ridgewood (5-3) would make the Knights eligible for the playoffs.
Riverside-Brookfield (5-3, 4-1) dropped a 35-14 decision to powerful Wheaton St. Francis, which had beaten Bishop McNamara 83-0 a week before.
West Suburban Conference
Lyons (6-2, 3-2) fell to Glenbard West, 28-20 in the Silver division, while Morton (3-5, 3-2) dropped a 37-14 decision to Downers Grove South in the Gold and has been eliminated from playoff consideration. The Mustangs have never qualified for the IHSA playoffs.
SouthWest Suburban Conference
Sandburg (2-6, 1-3) dropped a 44-7 decision to Homewood-Flossmoor in the Blue division. Stagg (2-6, 0-4) dropped a 34-0 game to Red division-leading Bradley-Bourbonnais.
Chicago Public League
Back of the Yards (2-6) closed its shortened eight-game season on a high note, beating DuSable, 26-6, in a crossover game.
Catalyst/Maria (5-3, 5-1) stayed in the playoff picture with a 32-6 win over Noble/Hansberry in the Red-Central.
Hubbard (0-8, 0-5) scored its most points in a game this season in an 18-14 loss to Brooks.
Goode (7-1, 6-0) padded its record for a desirable seed in the playoffs with a 38-28 victory over Carver in the Red-Southeast. Goode put itself in a position to host a first-round playoff game.
Local News
Chicago sports stadium drama heats up
Spread the love. By Rich Miller . More sports team stadium drama could be on the horizon as the Chicago White Sox are said, as of this writing, to be preparing to announce a significant private investment in a new South Loop ballpark. The ballclub has already demanded a share of the Illinois Sports Facilities…
Capacity crowd speaks out against Evergreen Park dispensary
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Additional chairs had to be brought out to seat an overflow crowd of Evergreen Park residents who attended a meeting April 15 regarding a proposed cannabis dispensary for the village. And many who were in attendance voiced their opposition to having a dispensary in Evergreen Park. Most of the people cited…
Countryside puts dog park on hold, will require leashes in two parks
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch The city of Countryside has put on hold building a dog park, but canines and their owners are still in store for a treat. The city council has unanimously approved a plan to permit dogs in City Park and Countryside Park this year. Previously, they were not allowed in the…
Bridgeview approves auto repair shop
Spread the loveMoves up time for May 1 village board meeting By Steve Metsch Bridgeview is getting a new automotive repair shop. The village board at its April 17 matinee meeting approved a special use permit that will allow a repair shop at 9010 S. Beloit Ave. There was no discussion among trustees. The board…
Summit Fire Department blood drive draws a crowd
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan The Summit Fire Department, along with the Village of Summit, and the Argo Summit Lions Club held a blood drive this past Saturday, and it drew a crowd that even impressed the American Red Cross. It took place from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. with non-stop donors walking through the…
Hodgkins toasts village businesses
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan Hodgkins Mayor Ernest Millsap and the Board of Trustees celebrated the village’s businesses at its annual Business Appreciation Breakfast on April 10. Over 100 people gathered at the Hodgkins Administration Center for a hearty breakfast hosted by the village. Representatives from many businesses that are located in or that work…
Pickleball courts coming to Palos Park
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva There will finally be outdoor pickleball in Palos Park. In a process that went longer than anticipated, the Palos Park Village Council was able give the green light to get a pickleball project started on the Village Green. The council voted April 8 to award the contract to U.S. Tennis…
First Secure Bank to host American Eagle gold coin sale
Spread the loveFrom staff reports First Secure Bank & Trust of Palos Hills announced its annual May sale of 1-ounce and ¼-ounce American Eagle Gold Coins, produced by the U.S. Mint, will take place from 10 a.m.to noon on Saturdays, May 4, May 11, May 18 and May 25. The sale will take place at…
Obituaries April 25, 2024
Spread the loveJOSEPH C. BURDA Joseph C. Burda, age 81, passed away March 28. Loving father of Amy Burda and Joseph Burda; dearest grandfather of Ryan Wenk and Lillianah Burda; cherished son of the late Mary (nee Breyer) and the late Joseph M. Burda; dear brother of Joan (Dan) Gale and Anna Hovey. Also survived…
Donate teddy bears to our local police
Spread the love. Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 . Have you ever seen the 1955 movie The Night of the Hunter? The children in this movie show such bravery and acceptance in what life has thrown at them. They have to deal with unimaginable events and sadness. …
Neighbors
Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?
by Meredith Newman, Illinois Answers Project April 16, 2024 This story was originally published by the Illinois Answers Project. The electricity in Mary Buchanan’s home in West Garfield Park was not working – again. The outage lasted four days, starting just after a crew dug up her front lawn to install a check valve in…
Lawmakers pitch sweeping changes to energy industry and Chicagoland transit system
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com A group of lawmakers and influential environmental advocates are calling for broad changes to the state’s energy industry and a massive increase in state oversight of Chicagoland’s transit system – which faces a projected $730 million budget shortfall. Advocates for the policy platform, which is broken up into…
Democrats flex muscle to kick off final month of session as revenues remain on track
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With about three weeks to go before the Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn its spring legislative session, supermajority Democrats showed their strength this week as fiscal forecasters noted state revenues remain on track. April is typically a make-or-break month for state coffers, as income…
Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The former Illinois State Trooper who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter of two sisters in 2007 has abandoned his efforts to have a hearing into the restoration of his driving privileges – for now. Matt Mitchell, 45, requested at least two delays in the hearing after he failed…
Capitol Briefs: Senate advances elections bill, measure targeting ‘predatory’ lending
By PETER HANCOCK & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would put more controls on certain kinds of high-cost loans to small businesses cleared the Illinois Senate Thursday. Senate Bill 2234, known as the Small Business Financial Transparency Act, targets a relatively new kind of nontraditional lender in the credit…
Law enforcement community honors fallen officers at Illinois Capitol
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Six fallen police officers were honored at an annual memorial service outside the State Capitol Thursday. The Illinois Police Officers Memorial occurs annually on the first Thursday of May to honor officers who died in the line of duty and to support their families. “No one…
Democrats muscle through changes to ballot access, advisory questions
By JERRY NOWICKI HANNAH MEISEL & PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Supermajority Democrats in the Illinois House moved quickly Wednesday to push through a change to state election laws that partially limits ballot access and adds three nonbinding referendums to the 2024 general election ballot. It’s a move that caused minority party…
After 3 years, state poised to enforce law aiming to end lending discrimination
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – In 1977, then-President Jimmy Carter signed into law the Community Reinvestment Act, a federal law that sought to wipe away the last vestiges of racial discrimination and redlining in America’s home mortgage industry. The idea was simple. By requiring lenders – primarily banks – to make…
Capitol News Illinois partners with ‘Illinois Lawmakers’ program to bring it back to air
Capitol News Illinois announced today it will produce the long-running “Illinois Lawmakers” program this spring, in partnership with longtime host and producer Jak Tichenor. “This new partnership is absolutely critical to providing Illinois residents with reliable, independent, in-depth, up to date coverage from the Illinois Capitol after many newspapers and broadcasters shuttered their Statehouse bureaus over…
Election officials to weigh whether Darren Bailey and GOP operative Dan Proft illegally coordinated
By ANDREW ADAMS & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A year and a half after Republican Darren Bailey lost his campaign to challenge Gov. JB Pritzker, state election officials are weighing whether he illegally colluded with conservative radio show host and political operative Dan Proft in the 2022 campaign. The State Board…