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Football: Defense leads St Rita past Andrew
Updated: November 6, 2011 12:38AM
An opportunistic St. Rita defense made some big plays early in Friday’s Class 7A second-round game against Andrew.
As it turned out, the No. 4 Mustangs needed all of them in a 28-13 victory in Tinley Park.
Down 21-0 in the third quarter, Andrew (7-4) pulled within 21-13 with 2:37 left in the game when Nick Reyes pounced on teammate Jarvis Franklin’s fumble in the end zone.
But St. Rita (9-2) recovered the onside kick and Mike Zunica (11 carries, 86 yards) dashed 38 yards to pay dirt to clinch a quarterfinal date at O’Fallon.
“I had to make up for my two fumbles earlier (both recovered by Rita),” Zunica said. “Our o-line was opening holes all over the place and our ‘D’ really picked us up.”
As usual, it was the defense that set the tone for the Mustangs.
Max Kurucar and Will McNamara each came up with a big second-quarter interception. Kurucar returned his 31 yards to the Andrew 24 and set up a 14-yard TD pass from Scott Thomas (7-of-15, 96 yards) to T.J. Verdun that helped make it 14-0.
McNamara’s thwarted an Andrew drive at the Mustangs’ 33. Jack Sears had an interception in the fourth.
“We try to take advantage of those opportunities,” McNamara said. “We try to take chances and not play conservative. Our coaches draw up a great scheme and we do our best to execute.”
Thomas’ 35-yard TD strike to Kenny Golladay sent the Mustangs into the locker room with a 21-0 lead before Andrew got on the board on Franklin’s 30-yard interception return for a score early in the third.
Tim Lombard (22 carries, 106 yards) had the first TD of the night for St. Rita on a six-yard run.
On two of the Mustangs’ first-half scoring drives, the Andrew defense missed a chance to recover a Zunica fumble.
Tyler Hook (14 of 28 passing, 150 yards) led the Thunderbolts, who were held to 39 yards rushing.
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