Marist powers by Marian in push for playoffs

Updated: October 1, 2011 12:26AM

 With remaining games against ranked teams in Joliet Catholic and Mount Carmel and a solid St. Patrick team on the schedule, Marist’s East Suburban Catholic contest Friday against Marian Catholic had some added importance.

Needing two wins to qualify for the state playoffs, Marist won in dominant fashion, taking down Marian 52-27 in Chicago Heights.

“This one was huge,” Marist’s Ryan Meyer said. “We had a great bounce-back week in practice (after losing to Nazareth). We had a great attitude and learned from our mistakes last week.”

Meyer was the star for Marist (4-2, 4-1) on both sides of the ball. The senior hauled in three touchdown catches (12, 13, and 20 yards) and had four catches for 63 yards overall while also returning a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown. On the defensive end, Meyer recovered a fumble.

One kickoff return was not enough for the RedHawks on this night, though, with sophomore Flynn Nagel continuing their special teams dominance in the second half.

Fielding the second half’s opening kickoff, Nagel got to the sideline and returned it 81 yards for the score.

“We went hard on special teams,” Meyer said. “Our KO scout team gave us great looks every single day (in practice), and it showed today.”

After Marian quarterback Rob Cifelli broke free for a 71-yard score, Marist exploded offensively, scoring touchdowns on its next four possessions.

Peter Andreotti scored on a 2-yard run to start the run midway through the third.

Meyer pulled in two first half touchdown receptions, adding his third on a 20-yard strike from Ian Woodworth.

The junior quarterback hit Nic Weishar for two touchdown passes (15 and 19 yards) in the fourth quarter.

Woodworth finished 15-of-23 for 215 yards and five touchdown passes. Having targets like Meyer and Weishar? Woodworth’s job is easy.

“The O-line blocks, and the receivers catch it,” Woodworth said with a smile. “It’s awesome. All I have to do is throw it up there, and they go get it.”

Jeruel Taylor finished with 181 yards on 24 carries for Marian Catholic (3-3, 3-3), scoring on a 1-yard run in the second. Taylor went over 1,000 yards rushing with a second quarter run. Cifelli hit Randall Wells for a 44-yard touchdown pass in the first.

“We just need to pick everything up in every aspect of the game for our team right now,” Cifelli said.

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