SPORTS SPOTLIGHT BY JOHN MONTGOMERY
When St Patrick quarterback Gavin Gardiner is on top of his game the Shamrocks are hard to beat. Gardiner who had 11 touchdown tosses in his junior season, added three touchdown passes to help his team overcome a wild first half in the Class 5A playoff opener at Wauconda (9-1). The Shamrocks eventually prevailed 49-28 after a wild day in Wauconda after leading 35-21 at halftime after game was tied at 14.
Gardiner might have played his best game completing 16 of 19 passes for 229 yards in the first 24 minutes and finished the contest with 25 completions for 274 yards.
"Gavin can be the best player in the state this year," Anthony Catron stated earlier this season.
"Anthony is an amazing player," Gardiner said on his talented teammate. "He runs so hard.
Anthony Catron, who was named section player of the year in CCL Purple, had another solid performance with 140 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
This dynamic duo for Shamrocks has now combined for 25 touchdowns this season. The Shamrocks went 2-7 last season as Catron broke his leg.
"Wauconda is a tough team," St Patrick first year head coach Tom Zbikowski said after the win. "They played hard. They didn't quit."
Gardiner is blessed with talented group of receivers. Seven different players caught passes. His favorite target this season has been Tim Schayer. Schayer, who has caught 52 passes this season, had 14 catches for 185 yards with two trips into the end zone.
St. Patrick put the unbeaten home team away in fourth quarter by scoring on a 17-yard run by Catron and interception return for touchdown by Kevin Michaelsen.
The Shamrocks amassed 465 yards while allowing 384 yards but forced four turnovers.
Tom Zbikowski was named Coach of the Year as eight players were chosen all section for helping lead the Shamrocks to the division championship while center Eli Valencia was named the best lineman.
St. Patrick will now turn its attention to Saturday night showdown at Triton College against three-time state football champion Cary Grove [8-2] who has one of the best running games averaging 37 points per game.