Kyle Quinn points to his ring finger as St. Xavier celebrates its 24-21 win over St. Francis to make it to the playoffs. Photo by Jeff Vorva
Pigskin Wrap: SXU defense can’t rest in playoff opener v. high-scoring Marian
By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
Saint Xavier’s defense will be put to the test in the first round of the NAIA Football Championship Series.
The Cougars (9-2) drew the 11th seed in the 16-team tournament that will decide the national champion. They will visit seventh-seeded Marian (Indiana) (8-1) at 12:05 p.m. Saturday at St. Vincent Field in Indianapolis.
Marian, which scored 86 points against Madonna (Michigan) and 67 against Taylor (Indiana), is led by quarterback Zach Bunaldo, who has thrown for 1,997 yards and 18 touchdowns this season.
SXU has a 10-4 record all-time against the Knights, including a 34-21 win in 2018, which is the last time these two teams played.
To get to the national playoffs, the Cougars needed to sweat out a 24-21 victory over St. Francis (Illinois) Saturday at Deaton Field to win the Mid-States Football Association Midwest title.
The Cougars had a 24-7 lead with 4:21 left in the third quarter. St. Francis (7-3) scored twice but could not overtake the Cougars.
SXU’s Stuart Ross threw for 192 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown pass to Justin Pringle. Receiver Kyle Quinn, who played quarterback for Lincoln-Way East’s state championship teams in 2017 and 2019, threw a 27-yard TD pass to Mason Gray. Ross also had a 1-yard TD run and Payton Benes booted a 28-yard field goal.
Amari Venerable, who had been battling injuries on and off for the Cougars, gained 76 yards on 15 carries.
“We had to earn this,” SXU coach Mike Feminis said. “Those guys over there [USF players] played their butts off. We’ve been fortunate. We’ve had so many close ones with them, and we always see to find a way to win it at the end. I’m so darn proud of them.”
St. Francis is a common opponent for SXU and Marian, the latter which beat the Saints, 31-7, on Sept. 17.
SXU’s Amari Venerable gains yards against USF Saturday to help his team make it to the playoffs. Photo by Jeff Vorva
A ‘special’ victory
St. Rita’s 28-7 Class 7A quarterfinal win over St. Charles North guaranteed the area will have three teams in the IHSA State Championship weekend on Nov. 26-27.
Ethan Middleton provided the lone offensive touchdown for the Mustangs. St. Rita returned two blocked punt attempts for touchdowns and a pair of Conor Talty field goals.
The Mustangs (10-2) host Mount Carmel (12-0) in the semifinals at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Mount Carmel beat the Mustangs 35-3 to open the season on Aug 26. The Mustangs were for that game missing some starting linemen because of injury.
Lyons falls to Loyola
Lyons (9-3) had one of its best football seasons in years come to an end with a 30-17 Class 8A quarterfinal loss to powerhouse Loyola (11-1).
CCL/ESCC playoffs
St. Laurence (4-6) advanced in the Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference playoffs for the right to go to the Prep Bowl with a 39-7 win over St. Patrick on Nov. 11 in Burbank.
Danny Fitzpatrick threw for two touchdowns, Rob Francis ran for 77 yards and Cesar Chavez had three solo tackles and three assists.
De La Salle dropped a 27-0 decision to Fenwick to finish 2-9. Evan Smith had 10 tackles and Tristyn Hynes added eight.
Local News
Orland Park Library collecting candy wrappers
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Candy has taken on a whole new life at one local library. The Orland Park Public Library, 14921 S. Ravinia Ave., Orland Park, is happy to announce the launch of its very first Trash or Treasure candy wrapper recycling campaign. The Trash or Treasure program helps reduce the waste that…
Hickory Hills adds new police officer
Spread the loveBy Nuha Abdessalam Hickory Hills Police Chief Jason Bray welcomed Andre Showers as the city’s newest police officer during last week’s city council meeting. Aldermen and the community at the April 11 meeting helped celebrate the induction of the Showers, 21. He’s an Army veteran and a 2023 Cook County Correctional Camp graduate…
Marist celebrates cultural diversity
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Marist High School appreciates the wide array of culture that walks its campus hallways on a daily basis. In order to celebrate, the high school, 4200 W. 115th St., Chicago, hosted its second annual Celebration of Culture on March 14. During the free event, students, faculty and staff represented their…
Palos Heights Knights of Columbus donate to GiGi’s Playhouse
Spread the loveGrand Knight John Laskey and Past Grand Knight Brian Mellenthin of St. Theodore Guerin Knights of Columbus Council 14057 presented a check for $1,500 to GiGi’s Playhouse of Tinley Park, one of several donations to local groups resulting from the Knights of Columbus’ Fall Tootsie Roll Drive. One of the most recognizable activities…
Worth police join task force to combat auto thefts
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle An agreement has been reached between the villages of Worth and Thornton regarding participation in the Illinois Statewide Auto Theft Task Force. Worth Police Chief Tim Denton said the approval of the memorandum to participate in the task force is necessary. “It’s no secret that there has been an increase…
Obituaries April 18, 2024
Spread the loveJAMES W. CZAJKOWSKI James W. Czajkowski formerly of Chicago, Garfield Ridge community, passed away April 4. He was the loving son of the late Walter and the late Irene (nee Gryska) Czajkowski; dearest brother of Robert J. Czajkowski and Linda (Michael) Brice; beloved uncle of Marlise Garcia, Jennifer Williams, Robert David Czajkowski, Kristin…
A simple idea for Earth Day
Spread the love. By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 517-7796 . Moving right along through April, as the days get longer and nicer, time will start to go by faster. We have Earth Day on April 22 and the start of Passover at sunset.…
Bingo at St. Clare was something to yell about
Spread the love. Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 . Recently I mentioned a bingo fundraiser the Augustinian Young Adults of St. Rita of Cascia Parish were holding. This was their first attempt at a bingo and they put on a really nice event. Held…
One thing is certain: life goes on
Spread the love. Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 . I get a lot of calls from residents who are discouraged about our neighborhood. There are so many car accidents, shootings and violent crimes being committed in West Lawn and surrounding areas. It certainly is challenging to stay hopeful and positive. Here is a paragraph…
Neighbors
State Senate advances bill to ban food additives linked to health problems
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com The Illinois Senate passed a bill Thursday that would ban four food additives that are found in common products including candy, soda and baked goods. Senate Bill 2637, known as the Illinois Food Safety Act, passed on a 37-15 bipartisan vote and will head to the House for…
INVESTIGATE MIDWEST: Farmers have clamored for the Right to Repair for years. It’s getting little traction in John Deere’s home state
By Jennifer Bamberg, Investigate Midwest Originally published April 10, 2024 During the 2023 harvest season, one of Jake Lieb’s tractors quit working. A week later, his combine stopped working, too. Both were new — and he was locked out from making any repairs himself because of software restrictions embedded in the machines. Instead, a technician…
Education leaders seek added state funding to help districts accommodate influx of migrants
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The recent surge of international migrants arriving in Illinois has brought with it a host of new challenges for state and local officials. Those range from filling their most basic needs like emergency food, clothing and shelter, to more complex issues like lining them up with…
Capitol Briefs: Lawmakers, advocates again call for affordable housing tax credit
By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois draju@capitolnewsillinois.com Housing advocates are renewing a push to fund a $20 million state affordable housing tax credit in the upcoming state budget. Supporters of the “Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit Act,” modeled after a federal tax credit program, claimed it would result in over 1,000 affordable housing units being…
Solar investments take center stage as questions loom on state’s renewable future
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com BOLINGBROOK – A manufacturer in the southwest suburbs of Chicago received $2.6 million from electric utility Commonwealth Edison this week as part of a state program for generating its own electricity using solar panels and storing it in one of the largest batteries in the country. But even…
Advocates renew push to tighten firearm laws aimed at protecting domestic violence victims
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois Clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Advocates for stricter gun laws rallied at the state Capitol Tuesday for a measure aimed at protecting domestic violence victims and two other criminal justice reforms. The bills are backed by organizations such as Moms Demand Action and One Aim Illinois among others. “These policies support…
Komatsu mining truck named 2024 ‘coolest thing made in Illinois’
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois Clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A mining truck manufactured by Komatsu was crowned the winner of the 2024 “Makers Madness” contest, earning the title of “the coolest thing made in Illinois” at the Governor’s Mansion Wednesday. The truck was one of more than 200 entries in the 5th annual contest hosted…
Capitol Briefs: Pritzker appoints first-ever Prisoner Review Board director; Chicago advances migrant funding
By JERRY NOWICKI & DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com Weeks after two high-profile resignations at the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday appointed the first-ever executive director to help lead the beleaguered agency. To fill the newly created position, the governor tapped Jim Montgomery, who most recently served as director of…
INVESTIGATE MIDWEST: Farmers have clamored for the Right to Repair for years. It’s getting little traction in John Deere’s home state
By Jennifer Bamberg, Investigate Midwest, Investigate Midwest Originally published April 10, 2024 During the 2023 harvest season, one of Jake Lieb’s tractors quit working. A week later, his combine stopped working, too. Both were new — and he was locked out from making any repairs himself because of software restrictions embedded in the machines. Instead,…
Illinois Senate advances changes to state’s biometric privacy law after business groups split
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – It’s been more than a year since the Illinois Supreme Court “respectfully suggest(ed)” state lawmakers clarify a law that’s led to several multi-million-dollar settlements with tech companies over the collection of Illinoisans’ biometric data. On Thursday, a bipartisan majority in the Illinois Senate did just that,…