By Jack Lydon
[Preview of this week’s piece in Inside—Booster]
“Every time we try to get cute defensively and try to do more, the kids make mistakes,” said DePaul Prep head coach Mike Passarella.
“So we said we want to go back to the basics and play fundamental football.”
Fundamental football is what we saw at DePaul Prep Stadium Friday night where the DePaul Prep Rams handled the Saint Viator Lions 36-7 in a Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference Purple Division matchup.
There was not a whole lot of offense in the first quarter. Both teams were trying to find their legs. It was the Rams that found them first and dominated on defense. With the score 8-0 Rams after Rams’ senior running back Tyson Hicks scored on 42-yard run midway through the second quarter, with five minutes left in the half and ball at midfield, the Lions had a fourth and two. The frustrated Lions went for it.
“I called the stunt. We knew that we could get some movement. After a couple of series that they were sliding to [Junior defensive end Hunter Wahtola] because he's kind of our big disruptive player that creates penetration,” Passarella said.
“My nose guard took up that block, I slanted right in that A gap. Once I met the quarterback face to face, I knew I was going to get that sack,” Wahtola said.
Wahtola was in the backfield so fast, it looked like the play was designed to give him the ball. Wahtola dropped Lions’ senior quarterback Joey Lampignano so quickly it took a moment to realize the play was over.
After that, it was all Rams. Responding to the stop, the Rams came up with a little trickeration.
Junior quarterback Jackson Grabinski through a long lateral pass to senior wide receiver Blake Yucan, who also happens to be the backup quarterback, who then launched a deep ball to a wide open senior wide receiver Matthew Osterman who trotted into the endzone for a 53-yard touchdown reception making the score 15-0 at the half.
The second half was Rams sophomore running back Tyson Hooks turn to shine. He had a 49-yard touchdown catch and run in the third quarter littering the field with failed Lion tacklers reminiscent of Walter Payton run. And then Hicks added a third touchdown with 3:17 left. This time for 58-yards to put the game away. Hicks with touchdowns of 58, 49 and 42 yards.
“I think we’ve got the best of offensive line in the state. I say that a lot. They make my life easy,” said Hicks.
“I ran thirty yards before I was touched. My receivers are running down field blocking safeties forty hours down the field.”
For some icing on the cake, senior safety Luke Flom, who plays more like a linebacker, split out into the flat deep in coverage deep in the Saint Viator end of the field. Lampignano looked to his left and passed the ball. It what seemed like a lifetime, the ball sailed right to Flom with no Lion receiver even in view.
“I was ready for it. I knew the ball is coming to me. They were throwing at me all night. I don't know why but I was ready for it and it took it to the house,” Flom said.
Flom, who has missed a few games with injury this season, grabbed it like he was the intended receiver and raced it into the end zone to give the Rams a 35-0 lead late in the third quarter.
“My first game back of a lot of injuries. I knew it was coming. I got a few pass deflections, but I was ready for it and took it to the crib,” Flom added.
The Rams move to 2-4 on the season. The Lions drop to 1-5. It’s been a rough opening campaign for first year Saint Viator head coach and former Chicago Bears place kicker Robbie Gould. Gould came over to Saint Viator from Rolling Meadows high school where he coached last year.
Gould spent eleven seasons as the Bears’ kicker from 2005-2015. After being unceremoniously and stupidly dumped by the Bears, he played nine more seasons in the NFL principally with the San Franciso 49ers. Gould is the nineth most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history.
