Starters and reserves shine in big win at Marquette Catholic

Harrisburg’s 54-0 win at Marquette Catholic, formerly generally known as Alton-Marquette, was a complete team victory with not only the offense and defense operating at peak efficiently, but also the reserves showing their talents in the second half.

“I told our young men not to be cocky even though it was a winnable game with Marquette sitting at 0-3, because if we came out flat we could put ourselves in a hole, so they came out executing,” said Harrisburg coach Matt Griffith. “Our plan was the defense to go three-and-out and our offense to score on the opening drive to set the tone. And they were able to do that tonight.”

The 54-0 win was the biggest margin of victory for the Bulldogs since beating Murphysboro, 59-0, in 2004 and, 60-0, in 2000. The 54 points scored was also the eighth best total since the IHSA website began keeping records in 1996 behind the 69 points against Murphysboro in 2009, 60 against Murphysboro in 2000, 59 against Murphysboro in 2004, 56 against Massac County in 2011, 56 against Herrin in 2000, 55 against Murphysboro in 2005 and 55 against West Frankfort in 2001.

Harrisburg improved to 3-1 with all four games being on the road. This week the Bulldogs open their SIRR-Ohio Division Conference schedule by hosting Massac County (1-3, 0-1 Ohio Division) Friday at 7 p.m. on Homecoming.

“We are sitting in a good position as the season now gets tougher, but we can’t look past anybody,” Griffith said. “The long road warrior stint is finally over and now we can be home for two before we go back to Murphysboro. Our last two games are back at home.”

Overall, the Bulldogs' offense finished with 414 total yards and eight touchdowns on 40 plays in nine possessions and the defense held the Explorers to a negative 59 yards on 31 plays in 10 possessions that resulted in six punts, two fumbles, one turnover on downs and one that ended the game.

“We were able to run at will and throw at will,” Griffith said. “We wanted to give the starters as much playing time as we can, but we also wanted to give our sophomores and juniors as much playing time as possible.”

The first quarter was a model of efficiency on both sides of the ball with the defense forcing a punt after three plays setting up the Owen Rann led Harrisburg offense at the Marquette 46. Four plays later Brendan Hicks scored on an 10-yard touchdown run. Burke Wilson kicked the extra point just 2:51 into the game. The drive included a 26-yard pass from Rann to Aiden Unthank on 3rd-and-11.

After another three-and-out punt, the Bulldogs took over on its own 27 and again four plays later, that included a 44-yard run by Reed Rider up the middle on first down, Hicks scored an 11-yard touchdown run. Wilson was good again to up the lead to 14-0 with 4:49 left in the quarter.

Following another three-and-out punt, the Bulldogs drove 40-yards on four plays with Rann connecting with Unthank for a 21-yard touchdown pass. Wilson drilled the extra point for a 21-0 lead with 1:14 left in the quarter.

The first quarter ended with Harrisburg gaining 159 yards on 14 plays for an average of 11.4 yards a play with the defense holding the Explorers to negative 12 yards on 11 plays.

“We came out and executed like we wanted to,” Griffith said. “The run game was our primary means of attack.”

The second quarter was more of the same except for two Bulldog mistakes that opened the quarter. Unthank recovered an Explorer fumble that Henry Quinn had forced to set up the offense at the Marquette 45 with 14 seconds left in the first quarter. However, a discombobulated attempted pass play saw Rann throwing to his center resulting in a penalty and a loss of 25 yards.

With five seconds left another pass resulted in only a one-yard gain leaving the second quarter to begin with a 3rd-and-24. An incomplete pass led to Harrisburg’s only punt of the game.

Everything got back on track with the defense rising to the occasion with Kane Lands forcing another fumble and Gavin Wayman recovering at the Explorers’ 15. Two plays later Rider scored from the five. However, a bad snap on the extra point caused the resulting run to fail leaving the score, 27-0, with 9:29 left in the first half.

“Because of injuries, we are putting Kane into some situations where he can cause some disruptions,” Griffith said.

The wheels on the bus were fully engaged for the rest of the quarter with the defense forcing another punt setting up the offense at their own 48 where Rann and Unthank connected for a 52-yard touchdown pass that Unthank initially bobbled twice at the 11 before corralling the ball and continuing into the end zone. The snap was good and Wilson kicked the point to up the lead to 34-0 with 7:13 left before intermission.

Another three-and-out punt set up the offense at their own 21. Rider got the drive off with a bang ripping off 63 yards on first down. Three plays later Hicks ran the ball in from the 10 and Wilson was perfect on the point and the Bulldogs held a 41-0 lead with 3:22 left.

The defense finished the first half holding Marquette to negative 26 yards on three plays and a punt. In the second quarter, Harrisburg gained 132 yards on 11 plays scoring touchdowns on three of its four possessions while the defense held Marquette to negative 55 yards on 12 plays.

The starters finished their game scoring six touchdowns on seven possessions gaining 291 total yards on 25 plays for an average of 11.6 yards a play. Rider led the rushing attack with 135 yards on five carries with Hicks scoring three touchdowns on six carries for 40 yards. Rann completed 4-of-7 passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Unthank caught all four passes.

With Harrisburg leading by 41 points at the half, the entire second half was played with the running clock.

Sophomore Ian Crabb took over at quarterback and opened the third quarter with a 10-play, 71-yard drive that ate 7:46 off the clock ending with sophomore Aiden Hankins scoring a 13-yard touchdown run around left end. Wilson kicked the point to up the lead to 48-0 with 4:22 left in the quarter.

During the drive Hankins ripped off runs of nine, seven and eight yards in addition to his 16-yard touchdown run. Junior Luke Baugher gained 15 yards also around left end to set up the touchdown.

The defense again shut down Marquette turning the ball over on fourth down holding the Explorers to four yards on four plays.

The fourth quarter opened with the Bulldogs driving 75 yards on five plays, including six and eight-yard runs by Hankins and an 18-yard run by Baugher ending with sophomore Braylin Johnson scoring on a 33-yard run with 5:55 remaining. The Bulldogs took a knee on the extra point for the final margin.

In the second half, the reserves gained 135 yards on 11 carries with Hankins finishing with 58 yards rushing on eight carries, Johnson 41 yards on three carries, Baugher with 33 yards on two carries and sophomore Kenny Novy 18 yards on five carries.

“The second string did a job when we needed them to control the clock and finish the game on a high note,” Griffith said. “It was really good to see them step up and really play well. Johnson had been playing a wing and a fullback every once in a while for the JV, but tonight we had him replacing Hankins, who has been playing meaningful reps in other games, and he ran very well for us.”