Kaneland's comeback bid denied

Marmion's Alex Strong (right) brings down Kaneland's Tyler Callaghan during the Cadets' 22-15 win Friday night at Kaneland.
Photos by HEATHER EIDSON/STAFF PHOTOGRAPher

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MAPLE PARK -- Marmion Academy's sizable contingent of fans may have thought they were in for an easy evening at Kaneland's Peterson Field.

After all, their Cadets pounced on Kaneland early and appeared headed for a blowout win. But the Knights, behind sophomore quarterback Joe Camiliere, rallied until falling inches short in Marmion's 22-15 non-conference victory.

It was the Marmion's second straight win over Kaneland in what has become an intriguing rivalry. The Cadets had controled the entire game, but a late fumble made things interesting.

Trailing 22-8, Camiliere either ran or passed out of the spread offense for all 12 plays of a 61-yard drive, culminating with a seven-yard scoring reception by sophomore Tyler Callaghan (9 catches, 60 yards) with 3:53 remaining.

Then, on the Cadets' next play from scrimmage, Steven Tosaw recovered a fumbled center snap, setting Kaneland up at the Marmion 47. Camiliere, who completed 28 of 45 passes for 260 yards and an interception, connected on four straight passes to earn a first-and-goal for the Knights. But on third down, Ryley Bailey caught another pass and, in stretching for the goal line, fumbled into the end zone where Marmion's Juan Avila recovered, sealing the Cadet triumph.

Marmion shocked the Knights on its first play from scrimmage. Junior tailback Matt Pircon retrieved a high center snap and ran 73 yards for an 8-0 Cadet lead only 1:15 into the game. Then on the next Cadet possession, Pircon's 32-yard run set up his 18-yard scoring reception from Ricky Bird (8-for-12, 167 yards). Pircon finished with 84 yards rushing and six catches for 136 yards, most coming in the first half.

Down 16-0, Camiliere engineered an 81-yard march and scrambled the final nine yards to cut the Cadet lead to 16-8 early in the second quarter. But Marmion came out strong again in the second half, going up 22-8 at 10:06 of the third period on a 45-yard sweep by Ryan Fitzgerald.

The Cadet defense, anchored by Avila on the line, got just enough pressure on Camiliere in his first home varsity appearance to hold off Kaneland. The Knights were stymied on five different drives in Marmion territory.