Sacred Heart Griffin (SHG) 13-0 vs Providence Catholic (PC) 9-4
SHG Regular Season: Beat 4A Semi-Finalist Rochester 62-27, 5A Qualifier Jacksonville 55-14, 5A Qualifier Decatur MacArthur 52-0, and 6A Qualifier Chatham 49-0.
PC Regular Season: Lost to 7A Qualifier Wheaton North 0-28, Beat 5A Qualifier Fenwick 25-22, Lost to 4A Qualifier Joliet Catholic 41-49, Lost to 8A Finalist Loyola 22-34, and Lost to 7A Semi-Finalist St Rita 16-26.
SHG Post Season: Beat Spring Valley 55-6, Waterloo 28-16, Murphysboro 51-13, and Rochester 56-42.
PC Post Season: Beat Wheaton Academy 17-3, Joliet Catholic 24-14, Richmond Burton 31-14, and Wheaton St Francis 17-14.
SHG blitzed the CS8 in the regular season, with their closest victory a 35 point margin. In the playoffs, they had two significant scares. They trailed Waterloo on the road 16-7 in the 3rd Quarter, before scoring the final 21 points to win 28-16. Last week, they fell behind at home 28-0 to Rochester before rallying to win 56-42. SHG scored the final 28 points.
PC went 5-4 during the regular season but played an extremely difficult schedule, much more so than SHG. Only 1 of the four losses was by more than 12 points. They were competitive with 7A St Rita and 8A Loyola. In the playoffs, they avenged one of the losses by beating Joliet Catholic and also beat three other highly ranked 4A teams.
SHG is very experienced, returning 15 starters from last season’s runner up team and starting a total of 19 Seniors. They have a 2-year QB, Ty Lott, who will be making his 28th career start. He has over 40 combined passing and rushing TD’s. The Cyclones have two good RB’s and use up to seven different Receivers, several of whom are both big and very athletic. The fewest points they’ve scored this season is 28. On defense, SHG has struggled at times with power running attacks, but has a good group of Linebackers and a Secondary that is aggressive and forces turnovers. The Cyclones are also excellent on Special Teams.
As of this afternoon, PC had not posted their stats on the IHSA finals site, and they only have three box scores on Maxpreps. So, I am flying blind to an extent. They have a big offensive line, ranging from 245-270 pounds. They also start 2 TE’s and their main running back is 5’7” 195 pounds. Based on that, I’m expecting PC to run right at the SHG defense for as long as it’s successful. The PC defense has only allowed 45 points in the playoffs. Their DL and LB’s aren’t huge but are all at least 200 pounds. They start 3 Sophomores in the secondary. By this point of the season, these young DB’s are battle hardened but they will definitely be tested by the SHG Receivers.
Based on playoff performance and strength of schedule, PC should probably be a slight favorite to win. I’ll be very surprised if this isn’t a competitive game that‘s not decided until late in the 4th Quarter. I think SHG’s experience and desire to send Ken Leonard out with a win is just enough to pull this out. SHG 28 PC 26.
SHG Regular Season: Beat 4A Semi-Finalist Rochester 62-27, 5A Qualifier Jacksonville 55-14, 5A Qualifier Decatur MacArthur 52-0, and 6A Qualifier Chatham 49-0.
PC Regular Season: Lost to 7A Qualifier Wheaton North 0-28, Beat 5A Qualifier Fenwick 25-22, Lost to 4A Qualifier Joliet Catholic 41-49, Lost to 8A Finalist Loyola 22-34, and Lost to 7A Semi-Finalist St Rita 16-26.
SHG Post Season: Beat Spring Valley 55-6, Waterloo 28-16, Murphysboro 51-13, and Rochester 56-42.
PC Post Season: Beat Wheaton Academy 17-3, Joliet Catholic 24-14, Richmond Burton 31-14, and Wheaton St Francis 17-14.
SHG blitzed the CS8 in the regular season, with their closest victory a 35 point margin. In the playoffs, they had two significant scares. They trailed Waterloo on the road 16-7 in the 3rd Quarter, before scoring the final 21 points to win 28-16. Last week, they fell behind at home 28-0 to Rochester before rallying to win 56-42. SHG scored the final 28 points.
PC went 5-4 during the regular season but played an extremely difficult schedule, much more so than SHG. Only 1 of the four losses was by more than 12 points. They were competitive with 7A St Rita and 8A Loyola. In the playoffs, they avenged one of the losses by beating Joliet Catholic and also beat three other highly ranked 4A teams.
SHG is very experienced, returning 15 starters from last season’s runner up team and starting a total of 19 Seniors. They have a 2-year QB, Ty Lott, who will be making his 28th career start. He has over 40 combined passing and rushing TD’s. The Cyclones have two good RB’s and use up to seven different Receivers, several of whom are both big and very athletic. The fewest points they’ve scored this season is 28. On defense, SHG has struggled at times with power running attacks, but has a good group of Linebackers and a Secondary that is aggressive and forces turnovers. The Cyclones are also excellent on Special Teams.
As of this afternoon, PC had not posted their stats on the IHSA finals site, and they only have three box scores on Maxpreps. So, I am flying blind to an extent. They have a big offensive line, ranging from 245-270 pounds. They also start 2 TE’s and their main running back is 5’7” 195 pounds. Based on that, I’m expecting PC to run right at the SHG defense for as long as it’s successful. The PC defense has only allowed 45 points in the playoffs. Their DL and LB’s aren’t huge but are all at least 200 pounds. They start 3 Sophomores in the secondary. By this point of the season, these young DB’s are battle hardened but they will definitely be tested by the SHG Receivers.
Based on playoff performance and strength of schedule, PC should probably be a slight favorite to win. I’ll be very surprised if this isn’t a competitive game that‘s not decided until late in the 4th Quarter. I think SHG’s experience and desire to send Ken Leonard out with a win is just enough to pull this out. SHG 28 PC 26.
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