Mustangs take out No. 4 Thornton

In playoff football, there are no style points. Winning is all that matters.

So, while top-seeded St. Rita’s 21-13 Class 7A playoff victory over No. 4 Thornton Friday night at home wasn’t the Mustangs’ prettiest of the year, they’ll certainly take it.

St. Rita (10-1) will face the winner of today’s De La Salle/East St. Louis game.

“This wasn’t really the showing that we wanted tonight,” said running back/defensive back Dave Marciano. “But, the scoreboard says we won, so we’re moving on and that’s the only thing that counts.”

Marciano was everywhere Friday and put together a solid all-around performance.

The 5-foot-10 senior scored all three of the Mustangs’ touchdowns while also setting up one of his scores courtesy of a 49-yard interception return late in the second quarter.

Marciano (7 carries, 56 yards) also had a strong night returning punts and kickoffs.

St. Rita coach Todd Kuska was glad to have Marciano on his side.

“In big games, it’s always the big guys who step up,” Kuska said. “Dave’s a big guy for us and he’s done a lot of things this year.”

While Marciano came up with several big carries throughout the contest, it was sophomore running back Jahwon Akui who handled the bulk of St. Rita’s ground attack.

Akui, a 5-foot-4, 160-pound speedster, carried 30 times for 170 yards, including a 19-yard scamper, which sealed the game with under a minute to play in the fourth quarter.

“Jahwon does a great job for us, but we like to use a little bit of a one-two punch back there with Dave (Marciano) as well.”

Thornton (8-3) received a huge effort from quarterback Darren Jones (15-of-30, 224 yards, TD, 2 INT).

Marciano put the Mustangs on the board with 7:21 to go in the opening quarter when he raced in from five yards out.

Shane Conlon booted the first of three PATs and St. Rita lead 7-0.

Thornton knotted the contest with 4:20 left courtesy of a 2-yard plunge by Dante Tolbert and extra point by Ovie Godfrey. Marciano’s interception of Jones set up his four-yard score with 4:47 remaining in the second.

Jones closed the half with a 6-yard bullet to Tolbert with 17.5 left. The extra point was blocked.

After a scoreless third period, Marciano gave the Mustangs breathing room with 8:32 left in the fourth, courtesy of an eight-yard run.