Marmion prepared for big day

Updated: March 22, 2011 4:58PM

It feels like eons ago, that dramatic win over Danville in the 6A semi-finals, doesn't it? Five days can seem like that when you're trying to enjoy each one leading up to a state championship game to the fullest, but here we are, on the eve of the biggest football afternoon in Marmion Academy history.

It's also the eve of what should be the greatest in Aurora football history, as this team will bring home the first official state championship this town has seen.

True, I have not seen the Titans play a down of football this year. but this is not outright homerism. I don't doubt how good Rockford Boylan is - they knocked off the defending 6A champs in overtime and a very, very good Prairie Ridge team to get here. But I have seen plenty of the Cadets, and right now, I'd pick them head-to-head with Montini Catholic.

Marmion is a better team today than they were in Week 9 when they lost in overtime to the Broncos after rallying from a 21-point deficit, and the Broncos should easily bring home their second straight Class 5A title and finish the season with 12 consecutive wins.

What does that mean? It means I feel the only teams left playing football that can beat the Cadets can be found in Classes 7A and 8A, and I'd say Marmion would have a fighting chance against two of them.

Right now, the Marmion offense is operating confidently and consistently, both in the air and in the secondary running options behind T.J. Lally.

The defense, though it has allowed more points per game in the last three weeks than it had during the regular season, has been producing game-changing plays when it has mattered most.

What also portends well for the Cadets in what should be a very physical, close championship final, is that this team has made a living winning ugly: Seven points over Batavia and Mundelein, three points over Danville and one point over T.F. South.

It probably has Marmion fans feeling like this is a team of destiny. Conversely, fans in Rockford probably feel this is the week that the Cadets' defense - and luck - finally breaks.

Is it too much to ask a team to produce three game-winning stops in the final seconds in four weeks? Perhaps.

The Cadets would love to be put in that situation yet again however, and I have a feeling they will against a well-coached and disciplined Titans team.

I believe they will once again succeed, but more importantly, the kids in blue and red believe it, too.

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