CN100 Game of the Week preview: Football Week 7 - St. Francis vs. Montini Catholic

IHSA Football Week 7 – St. Francis vs. Montini Catholic

LOMBARD – With all of the success (five state titles) and the amount of blue-chip prospects to come out of the program, it’s amazing to hear Montini’s venerable coach Chris Andriano talk about this year’s group.
“We are playing great so far this season and pointing toward another deep playoff run, this time in Class 6A,” Andriano said. “Our team speed is the best it’s ever been and we are playing great in all phases.”
He sends his 6-0 Broncos into battle with rival St. Francis Friday night at 7:30 p.m. in Chicago Catholic Green action, a game which will be broadcast by CN100 at Noon and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, and 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 12. You can also see it anytime in HD with Xfinity On Demand.
Usually, even coaches of undefeated teams seeking their seventh straight season with 10 or more wins are still poking holes in their team’s play, but not the 37-year veteran Andriano.
The Broncos are blowing people out as of late. After a three-point win over Maine South and a rugged 10-point win at East St. Louis, Montini has outscored teams 159-7.
Senior quarterback Justin Blake is the catalyst, completing 60-of-93 through the air for 801 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s added 287 yards and two scores on the ground.
His top target is senior Tyler Millikan, one of the team’s top players and a co-captain, who is off to a great start with 23 catches for 369 yards and three touchdowns. Junior tailback Prince Walker has contributed 428 yards and nine touchdowns in 65 carries, while adding a 77-yard punt return. Junior wide receiver Brandon Shilgalis and senior running back Dylan Maher each have 11 catches.
Defensively, the Broncos swarm is by senior middle linebacker John Embrey and his team-best 52 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. Senior defensive end Brandon Andino is a pest, with 34 tackles, 13 for loss and two sacks. Junior Nick Foster adds 37 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and two sacks.
“Montini is loaded with talent and one of the fastest teams I’ve seen on tape since I’ve been coaching,” St. Francis coach Mike Fitzgerald said. “On defense, it’s very hard to zero in on one guy because they have so many weapons.”
St. Francis (4-2, 1-0) welcomes 20 new starters in Fitzgerald’s second year at the helm. The Spartans were a semifinalist in Class 6A last year, going 10-3.
Senior Peter Fassnacht leads the way offensively, with 963 yards, 11 touchdowns and five picks in the passing game, while also rushing yards for 90 yards and two scores.
His top target is senior Will Purdom, who has 21 catches for 291 yards and two scores, not to mention another 186 rushing yards and four more touchdowns. Seniors Mike Beach (17 catches, 282 yards, two touchdowns) and Brett Whelton (13 catches, 176 yards) also factor into the passing game.
The Spartans do like to run the ball as well. Junior Nolan Pechan leads the team with 209 yards and seven scores on the ground. Senior John Krisco has recorded 136 yards and two touchdowns.
“We did a great job of running the football last week (a 49-35 loss to St. Laurence) and need to be able to do the same this week,” Fitzgerald said.
Defensively, junior Greg Bodanski (29 tackles, 16 assists), Whelton (21 tackles, 14 assists, two sacks), Pechan (21 tackles, eight assists, one sack) and senior Tristan Bolin (24 tackles, 13 assists, three sacks) lead the way.
- Paul Johnson, CN100 Correspondent

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