Fenwick grinds out win over Gordon Tech

Updated: October 1, 2011 4:39PM

Fenwick isn’t flashy.

The Friars run a grind-it-out offense, trying to wear down their opponent. The script worked perfectly on Saturday afternoon as Fenwick picked up a tight 18-13 win over Gordon Tech in a Catholic League crossover at Luther North.

Jack Stibich was the workhorse for the Friars running for two touchdowns and 108 yards on 23 carries.

“The offensive line this week really stepped up,” Stibich said. “We were having a little trouble with our wildcat so we went back to what we normally run. Right up the middle, counter, trap, just grinding the ball down the field.”

Trailing 7-6 at halftime, Fenwick (3-3) came out and marched down the field going 53 yards in nine plays. Stibich had every carry on the drive, capping it off with a two-yard score. The two-point conversion was no good keeping the Friars lead at 12-7 with 6:47 to play in the third quarter.

Fenwick kept trying to run between the tackles when Patrick Hart (10 carries, 59 yards) broke loose for a 45-yard run early in the fourth quarter that showcased some nifty moves by the 6-2, 215-pound junior tailback. Two plays later, Hart found paydirt on an eight-yard run up the middle that moved the Friars advantage to 18-7 with 8:16 remaining in the game. Quarterback Daniel Lattner was stopped on the two-point try.

“We switched a lot of things up this week and I was playing more defense,” Hart said. “I finally got in there and wanted to break a big run and see what I could do. I was just running for the end zone.”

Gordon Tech (3-3) didn’t quit and pulled within 18-13 after Julian Russell ran for an 11-yard touchdown on fourth-and-five with 1:33 to play. His two-point pass fell incomplete. Fenwick recovered the onside kick and Stibich broke loose a 12-yard run that enabled the Friars to run out the clock by taking a knee.

Stibich had given Fenwick a 6-0 lead on a 21-yard touchdown with 11:17 remaining in the second quarter. The extra point was no good and the Rams took the lead with 19 seconds left in the first half as Russell (16 carries, 71 yards) ran a bootleg and walked into the end zone untouched. Jeffrey Yacab converted the extra point.

“It’s a heartbreaker but we’re going to come back next week and hopefully pound on Leo,” Russell said. “We want to go the state playoffs. That’s all that matters.”

Fenwick has a tough one as they play host to Loyola Friday night at Morton West.

“We have Loyola next weekend and we needed a spark going into that one,” Hart said. “Our defense has been playing well and we need to continue to play well. It’s all on the offensive line. They’re the reason we were successful today with the run. We need them to step up against Loyola’s defensive line.”

“Our main goal is to make the playoffs and we have three games left,” Stibich added.

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