Missing the IHSA playoffs last year for only the second time in 14 seasons was a bitter pill for Marist.
“We had a letdown last year by not making the playoffs,” RedHawks linebacker Kevin Tomkins said. “We knew that we needed to pick it up this season.
“When we worked out in the offseason, we put in a lot of hard work and we held each other accountable. And (on Nov. 1), that paid off.”
Back in the Class 8A bracket, Marist pulled away for a 42-14 home win against Glenbrook South, earning the RedHawks (9-1) a second-round home game against Loyola (8-2), which beat Belleville East 48-6.
Marist is 1-3 against Loyola in state playoffs, but the RedHawks won the last meeting in the 2019 Class 8A quarterfinals.
Senior running back John McAuliffe helped set up the latest meeting with a big night against Glenbrook South. He ran 19 times for 171 yards and three touchdowns, including a 65-yarder.
“Not making the playoffs last season is a huge motivator for us,” McAuliffe said. “We have playoff games to make up for this season. We want to keep it rolling and make it last.”
After the Titans (5-5) scored on the opening possession with a 27-yard pass from Andrew Bonvechio to Wehbe Wehbe, Marist tied it at 7-all on McAuliffe’s 65-yard run around the left side at 6:09 of the first quarter.
A little over a minute later, Glenbrook South regained the lead at 14-7 as Bonvechio (6 of 12 passing, 155 yards) connected with Tyrone Cotton III on a 59-yard TD.
On the next possession, Marist evened it at 14-all as quarterback Jake Ritter (8 of 9 passing, 115 yards) rolled out to his right and found Brendan Doran on a 9-yard TD pass at 10:52 of the second quarter.
McAuliffe gave the RedHawks the lead for good with a 1-yard run up the middle at the 4:05 mark, making it 21-14.
With McAuliffe and the offensive line asserting themselves, it was time for Marist’s defense to make an impact. Tomkins picked off a Bonvechio pass at the goal line with under a minute remaining, preserving a 21-14 halftime lead.
“That was a huge momentum swing for us,” Tomkins said. “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I just saw (the ball).
“I was looking at the quarterback and I peeked and saw two guys running across. I saw him throw it and thought, ‘I love this. I’ve got to get this.’”
Marist scored on its first two possessions in the second half to widen its margin to 35-14. Ritter connected with Gavin O’Brochta (two receptions, 48 yards) on a 32-yard TD, with O’Brochta making an impressive diving catch. Ritter (15 carries, 61 yards) followed that with a 7-yard TD run with 7:04 left in the third quarter.
The RedHawks’ defense then came up with another big play. Bonvechio was hit by Brad Fitzgibbon and Anquan Kemp, causing him to fumble. Defensive tackle Josh Loera scooped up the ball at the Titans’ 20 and carried it to the 1 before being tackled.
On the next play, McAuliffe scored again with 5:37 left in the third quarter.
“I saw (the ball) on the ground and jumped on it,” Loera said. “I was like, ‘OK,’ and I picked it up. I didn’t see anyone in front of me and I started running.
“I was trying to hold on to it and run, but they tackled me. But we got John the TD, and that’s important. That’s a team effort.”
Also contributing for the RedHawks was Cameron Lofgren, who had an interception in the third quarter.