DePaul Prep Edges Lane Tech 6-0

[Preview of this week’s article in the Inside—Booster.]

By Jack Lydon

DePaul Prep had just enough. Just enough offense and just enough defense to stop Lane Tech on the one-yard line on the last play of the game to preserve a 6-0 victory Friday evening at DePaul Prep (2-0).

The Champions (1-1) literally walked to game by entering the gate between the back of Lane Tech and the DePaul Prep parking lot. That’s how close these schools are and that’s how close this game was.

Despite the obvious proximity of the schools, this game was a long time coming. The last football game between the Rams and Lane Tech was 37 years ago. That was back when the Rams were from Gordon Tech and Lane Tech were the Indians.

Former Gordon Tech and DePaul Prep athletic director Paul Chabura provided some of the history of the Gordon Tech v. Lane Tech football rivalry. Gordon won the football state champion in 1980. That year included two wins over then the Lane Tech Indians. Rams’ 33-0 victory in the regular season and another Rams’ 15-8 victory in the IHSA playoffs.

Gordon played Lane from 1980 to 1989 winning eight straight. Lane the last two including the 1989 playoff game 21-14.

DePaul Prep head basketball coach Tom Kleinshmidt was a sophomore at Gordon in 1989 and told the story about how a fight broke out after the 1989 playoff and spilled over into the McDonalds parking lot across Addison Street.

The football games between the two schools stopped after that incident. More than one of the former Gordon Tech student told the author that the hiatus was because the Lane coach at the time did not want to play the Gordon teams anymore.  

Friday night’s first game of this renewed rivalry was not a thing of beauty. The closest things to scoring plays in the first half were Lane’s missed 49-yard field goal on its opening drive and DePaul Prep’s 47-yard touchdown pass called back for an illegal man downfield late in the first half. The game was marred by frequent penalties on both teams. Frequent cramps afflicted both squads and slowed the game significantly.

A couple big plays in the second half proved the difference. Midway through the third quarter, Rams’ sophomore quarterback and transfer from Joliet Catholic, Andrew Campbell, rolled right and through a screen pass back left to running back, senior and co-captain Zach Stewart. Stewart weaved his way up the sideline braking tackles on his way for a 40-yard gain. A run by Rams junior running back Tyson Hooks brought the ball down to the three. Campbell finished the drive with a 3-yard keeper for the score that proved to be the difference.

The Champions but together what looked like it might be a game winning drive late in the fourth quarter. A beautiful slant pass from senior quarterback Blake Perkins to senior wide receiver Taylor Clay with 28 seconds to play put at the 5-yard line. Three plays followed but the Rams stopped the Champions at the one-yard line on the last play of the game.

Rams won 6-0.

First year DePaul Prep head coach Nick Bizzieri was ebullient, if a little worn out, after the game.

“The defense played lights out. They won the game for us tonight. The offense was sputtering. [Lane] loaded the box with nine guys. We had a hard time getting anything going in the run game. We had an inexperienced quarterback, a sophomore quarterback. But we stuck together,” Bizierri said of his team.

 “They have shown up two weeks in a row now in the second half . . . If there is one thing I can say about this roster is that it’s full of fighters.”

Maybe a little lost in the drama of the final minutes was the play of Rams’ sophomore transfer Andrew Campbell—a young man new to Chicago, new to the school and new to being a starting quarterback. This was his first start for DePaul Prep. He made big throws including the 47-yard touchdown that was called back. A couple difficult against the grain screen passes. No turnovers. And a running touchdown.

“I have practiced here since June or July, I look at [Lane Tech] every single day. The passion grows every single day. We play them next year at their house. That’s gonna be a big game. I am part of the program now, it’s my rivalry too,” Campbell said of the new rivalry with Lane.

DePaul Prep Dominates Saint Viator 36-7

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.

Catron Leads Shamrocks Past Rams

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT BY JOHN MONTGOMERY

In a projected duel between two young and talented quarterbacks, the brightest star was senior running back Anthony Catron. He rushed 29 times for 241 yards and two touchdowns leading St. Patrick (3-1) past neighborhood rival DePaul Prep 31-28 in the Chicago Catholic League Purple Division opener for both teams.

Catron battered the Rams’ defense but he was bruised himself, suffering a leg injury in the fourth quarter. He was standing on the sideline when teammate Jayden Miranda scored the game-winning touchdown with 44 seconds to play.

“I am fine,” Catron said after the game. “How can I be frustrated? We won the game.”

Miranda has also played well scoring five touchdowns this season on only 31 carries.

“Our kids have heart and they are tough,” St. Patrick coach Tom Zbikowski said after the emotional victory over the defending Class 4A champion. “I am almost speechless.”

DePaul Prep coach Mike Passarella wasn’t speechless. 

“We need to learn how to finish games,” he said.

The atmosphere was electric at Triton College in River Grove. St. Patrick was celebrating homecoming.

The Shamrocks are three victories from qualifying for the state playoff for only the second time in 12 years. The game was physical and intense with 20 penalties being meted out by the officiating crew.

The Shamrocks overcame 10 penalties by amassing 503 yards in total offense while allowing 387. They rushed for 321 yards while junior quarterback Gavin Gardiner, who passed for five touchdowns in the first three games, completed 15 of 26 passes for 182 yards. They punted only three times and stopped DePaul Prep on three possessions in the fourth quarter.

“Anthony (Catron) and Jayden (Miranda) played awesome,” Gardiner said. “Our offensive line played well. They did their job. They had very few missed assignments.”

What a difference a year makes. In 2024, St. Patrick was 2-7 without Catron, who suffered a broken leg. He watched from the sideline as DePaul crushed the Shamrocks 41-0 and went on to post an 11-3 record while winning a state championship in Class 4A.

In this matchup, DePaul junior quarterback Jackson Grabinski opened eyes. After misfiring on his first four passing attempts, he went on to complete 12 of his next 18 for 252 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown toss to Tyson Hicks. A sophomore, Hicks also demonstrated he could be a future star by catching eight passes for 135 yards and rushing for 40 yards.

“I thought Jackson did a great job tonight,” Passarella said. “The kid is really special.”

Meanwhile, Catron praised his own quarterback.

“I think (Gavin) can be All-State this year,” he said. “He is a great player. He is a great leader.”

Ultimately, DePaul Prep couldn’t stop Catron. He negotiated an interesting path to his big night. After missing most of last season with a broken leg, he had only 22 carries in St. Patrick’s first three games while Gardiner threw 65 passes. Catron powered for 144 yards in the first half against DePaul Prep while Gardiner completed 10 passes for 105 yards. Despite the heroics, however, St. Patrick trailed 21-14 at halftime.

“We weren’t frustrated,” Gardiner said. “We knew what we were going to do. We knew with our offensive line we could move the ball against that defense.”

A quarterback’s best friend is a good running game and a solid offensive line. In the second half, St. Patrick proved it. In four games, the Shamrocks haven’t allowed a sack while rushing for 603 yards, thanks to the solid play of senior linemen Joe Chase, Eli Valencia and Connor Malenok.

“We believe in our offensive line,” Zbikowski said. “We believe in our running game.”

“It (stunk) being hurt last year,” said Catron, who played in only two games. “It is amazing to be playing again. It’s the greatest feeling in the world.”

After being denied twice inside the 10-yard-line and Gardiner throwing his second interception of the season, St. Patrick trailed 28-21 at the outset of the fourth quarter. Miranda scored his fifth touchdown of the season on an eight-yard run with 44 seconds remaining to put the Shamrocks ahead. Grabinski drove the Rams 49 yards to give Emmett McCue a chance to tie but he missed a 31-yard field goal attempt with two seconds to play.

Things won’t get any easier for either team. St. Patrick will play at unbeaten and third-ranked Brother Rice (4-0) on Friday night while DePaul Prep (1-3) has a date against defending Class 8A champion Loyola(2-1).

Catron remains optimistic. “We want to make the state playoffs this year. Our main goal is to win the state championship,” he said.

St. Patrick's Edges DePaul Prep in Homecoming Thriller

By Jack Lydon

 

“We believe in our offensive line. We believe in our run game. That's the identity of our team. If we need to pass with the quarterback that can pass, but we love running,” said St. Patrick Shamrocks first year coach and former NFL player Tom Zbikowski.

That belief and that running game carried the Shamrocks to a 31-28 homecoming victory at Triton College Friday evening over conference rival and the defending IHSA 4A state football champion DePaul Prep Rams.

The environment at Triton football stadium was electric. The overflowing student section was loud. These two largely evenly matched teams battled back and forth driven by big plays and untimely penalties. The Rams jumped out to an early lead on an 81-yard catch and run by sophomore running back Tyson Hooks.

The Shamrocks answered on the next possession with at 6-yard touchdown run by Shamrocks’ senior running back Anthony Catron.

Midway through the third quarter, the game stopped after St. Patrick lined up for a game tying extra point. A Rams’ defensive lineman was carted off the field after the long 40-minute delay.

Late in the fourth quarter, one could feel the momentum change. The Shamrocks’ run game took charge after punishing the Rams all night long.  

With 2:47 remaining with the score 28-24, despite being stopped by the Rams on the previous drive, St. Patrick’s ground game offence moved that ball down to the 6-yard line. With 44 seconds remaining, Shamrock’s junior running back Jayden Miranda smashed his way up the middle for the winning touchdown.

“I don't think I could put it into words. How far they've come in one year, just from the wintertime,” Zbikowski said of his team after the game.

“The resiliency that they have and what they're willing to go through to win. I'm almost speechless.”

The Shamrocks are 3-1 on the young season and 1-0 in the Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference’s Purple Division. The future looks bright for Zbikowski and his Shamrocks.

“One game at a time. It’s a good start,” Zbikowski added. “We’ve got to keep rolling. We got to keep getting better. We’ve got a long road to go.”

Some readers may remember Tom Zbikowski from his days as a star linebacker for the University of Notre Dame in the 2000s. He also had five seasons in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears.

Zbikowski has bought into St. Pat’s and St. Pat’s has bought into Zbikowski.

“It’s a great school. It's a special place, the alumni, the people that go here. The people I was on the fire department with that went to St. Pat’s. It's a certain kind of certain kind of persons. It’s hard to explain it. They believe in themselves and they believe in the school.”

DePaul Prep’s coach Mike Passarella was not quite as exuberant as Zbikowski after the game for obvious reasons.

“Struggling right now; struggling in the finish,” said Passarella.

“Fourth quarter was kind of entire game. Not being able to put the ball in the end zone. Not being able to tackle and stop drives. I think this just shows our youthfulness right now.”

The Rams are coming off a state championship in the 4A class last year. Last year’s talented senior class were with Passarella all four years and put together a dream season after rallying from losing records before Passarella took over.

“You can tell we have moments but we can't finish right now. And that's a problem. When you have a lead then a couple of miss field goals, left six points and everything else. You have to finish the game. We just weren't able offensively with the same some stuff, and then it gives them the momentum. They score. A couple silly penalties. It's a lack of composure which shows our maturity and lack of the mental state and where things are at,” Passarella added.