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Nazareth suffers first loss in ESCC on last-second field goal by Marist
La Grange Park, IL - Saturday, September 8, 2012: Marist's runningback Peter Andreotti (25) rushes the ball vs Nazareth's Patrick Vitek (43). | Steve Johnston~for Sun-Times Media
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Updated: September 18, 2012 5:45PM
LA GRANGE PARK — Kickers know concentration is everything, which is why Cillian Hannon didn’t let an earlier miss or even a Nazareth late timeout distract him from another chance to win a football game with a field goal.
“I zeroed out,” Hannon said. “That’s why we are kickers.”
The Marist junior ended Saturday’s game with a 32-yard field goal to give the No. 5 RedHawks a 24-21 East Suburban Catholic victory at No. 25 Nazareth. Hannon missed a 33-yard field goal in the second quarter when his attempt went wide left. His second attempt in the game, from the right hash mark, launched a celebration as Marist rallied from a 14-0 deficit at halftime to pull ahead 21-14 when Ian Woodworth (17-of-39, 152 yards) located Nic Weishar for a 14-yard TD pass with 6:34 to go.
Nazareth running back Rudy Romagnano (21 carries, 135 yards) scored his second TD on a 4-yard run to tie the score at 21.
Marist coach Pat Dunne had complete faith in Hannon as the RedHawks began their game-winning drive from their own 35 with 1:14 remaining.
“I knew I was going to go with him right from there. We practice this,” Dunne said of Hannon.
Hannon’s game-winner was his first field goal of the season; his boot last season beat Benet 17-14.
Peter Andreotti (28 carries, 146 yards, TD) set up Weishar’s TD catch by rushing seven times during the nine-play drive.
Nazareth (2-1, 0-1), which was the only conference team to beat Marist last season, scored twice in the second quarter on Zachary Manuel’s 67-yard pass from Jake Bartels, which actually went through the hands of Carl Jackson. Nearly two minutes later, Romagnano scored his first TD on a 57-yard run.
“I told the kids that against a great team like Marist, you are not going to win every battle,” Nazareth coach Tim Racki said. “I’m happy with our performance. I told the kids that I am a competitor. I’m disappointed in the loss.”
Marist (3-0, 1-0) and Nazareth were two of four conference teams to enter the weekend without a loss. Now only Marist remains 3-0 for the second time in the last three years as St. Viator and Benet also suffered their first losses this weekend.
