Marmion ready for south suburb matchup

Here it is, Marmion fans, the week you've been waiting for since 1998.

It's been over a decade since the Cadets moved past the second round of the IHSA playoffs and once again the Cadets find themselves having to do it against a team from the south suburbs.

Back in '98, Marmion used a power running game to roll over Joliet Catholic Academy before losing to Geneseo in the quarterfinals.

I'm sure there are fans and alumni that can draw similarities between that team and the 2010 model that is headed to T.F. South Saturday evening.

Not only is this team as good as the team from 12 years ago, but some of today's players can cause a bit of deja vu.

These Cadets (9-1) have a big, bulldozer of a running back on this team in T.J. Lally, a special player one JCA alumnus told me reminded him of the way "Touchdown" Tom Koutsos barrelled over his Hilltoppers in '98.

I'm not sure if Nick Scoliere would remind folks of Brock Vlasz, Koutsos' running mate in Paul Murphy's backfield back then, but what he most definitely is a perfect compliment to Lally, just as Vlasz was to Koutsos.

And while Lally and Scoliere have been exceptional both running the ball and stopping the run as linebackers, this week is their biggest test of the season - and really the only way they can elevate themselves into Marmion football lore.

True, the two will leave the sprawling campus with stats and honors that will compare nicely to those who have come before, but the ultimate way in which all-time athletes are judged and compared is how well their teams did.

These two players, unlike many, can directly impact how successful the Cadets are not only this Saturday, but going forward in a loaded Class 6A bracket.

First, let's look at it from the defensive point of view.

The Rebels (9-1) feature a couple of dynamic running backs in Giovanni Canty and Allante' Nelson. As linebackers, Lally (100 tackles, 3 sacks) and Scoliere (49 tackles, 12 sacks) will be charged with making sure those potential game-breakers don't do exactly that.

Then, in passing situations, they will have to bring down Rebels QB Kevin Hallberg when they have the opportunity.

In the Cadets' Week 9 loss to Montini, several sacks and tackles for loss slipped through their hands, allowing the Broncos to either make a positive play, or avoid having to dig out from a big hole on second or third down.

Conversely, in big wins against Aurora Christian and Marian Catholic, Scoliere and Lally were machine-like in their ability to tackle at the point of impact and force negative outcomes.

This is key this week, but also going forward into a quartefinal matchup with either top-seeded Lemont or Geneva.

Yes, yes, there are nine other Marmion defenders on the field and the defensive line is a big part of this equation too - I'm not overlooking all that - but in big games you need your best players to play like it and going forward, these two linebackers will have big responsibilities on that side of the ball.

Which brings us to the other side of it.

Lally has not carried the rock as much as he did last year, but he has been just as effective in averaging 10.1 yards per carry and scoring 11 touchdowns on just 83 attempts.

But as the playoffs go on, will he have enough in the tank to get those key yards late in the game? Those who remember the Montini game will look at the tough time he had getting some short yardage, and of course the fumble in overtime. Was he tired? Who knows?

The same can be asked about Scoliere, who has rushed just 44 times but average 10 yards a pop. He is also the team's leading receiver with 17 catches for 338 yards.

The Marmion coaching staff has done a great job in keeping these kids fresh and healthy for this exact purpose _ so they can carry more of a load when it matters most.

And, you better believe they'll be the first ones to say they want the ball more if the Cadets need a game-winning drive Saturday night.

Expect these two to see a bunch of carries Saturday night to chew up the clock a bit, but they will be needed to continue to be big play performers despite a probably increase in energy exerted on defense.

This is a story for another time, but as one of the smaller schools in Class 6A (thanks to the double multiplier applied to the Cadets) the coaches and players have an uphill battle to fight when trying to stay healthy and fresh. A deep playoff run is made that much more difficult.

That said, there aren't two better kids - and athletes to count on overcoming that than Lally and Scoliere.

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