Blocked kick lifts Morris

Redskins outlast Marian Central to earn ninth trip to state title game

MORRIS -- An extra point is probably the most overlooked play in a football game. A team scores a touchdown, fans generally relax, talk about the scoring play, take a drink of something, basically anything but watch the conversion.

Any that did that Friday night in Morris High School's 10-9 Class 5A semifinal win over Marian Central Catholic missed the biggest play of the game.

After Marian's Jon Budmayr scored on a 2-yard run, the Redskins' Adam Tondini crashed in from the left side of the Hurricanes' line and blocked the extra-point kick of Sean Cwynar, preserving the Morris lead at 10-9 with 5:26 to play in the third quarter.

"We've been working on that overload right all year," Tondini said. "No one blocked me and I just came free.

"It was kind of early in the game, but it ended up being huge." Tondini and his twin brother Drew came up with huge plays later on as well.

Marian Central, which finishes at 10-3, drove to the Morris 15 with just under 4:00 to play, where they faced 3rd-and-2. Twice, the Hurricanes tried to run behind Notre Dame-bound tackle Sean Cwynar. The first time, Adam Tondini stopped Doug Simpson for no gain. On fourth down, Drew Tondini stopped Simpson after a yard and the Redskins (11-2) took over with 3:40 to play.

“They were running behind that big No. 77 (Cwynar) and I was able to trip up the back’s legs,” Adam Tondini said. “Then my brother stepped up big on the next play.

“Most kids don’t ever get a chance like this. This means a lot to the town and to the community that supports us.”

After the Redskins, who will play Metamora — a 62-34 winner over Marion — in Saturday’s 10 a.m. state final in Champaign, took over on downs, they went to their ‘T’ formation to try and grind out the win.

Two runs by Abe Black netted a yard, setting up 3rd-and-9. Marian called timeout with 2:51 to play, allowing the Redskins to set up a play. In a similar situation last week, quarterback Drew Hanson ran a bootleg and got the first down.

Taking a page from the if-it-works, stick-with-it book of coaching, Dergo again called the bootleg. He was apparently unhappy with the call when the teams lined up and signaled for a timeout. The officials didn’t see him, and Hanson scooted for a 16-yard gain and a first down.

“I can’t believe they fell for the bootleg,” Dergo said. “They had three guys on that side of the field, and I was yelling, ‘Timeout, timeout!’ But their three guys jetted in and Drew was able to get around them.

“Drew just runs this team great and he did another great job tonight.”

Morris still needed another first down to seal the victory, and they went to Adam Tondini. He had been limited to just 15 yards on 14 carries up until then, but after consecutive 3-yard gains, the ran for a six on 3rd-and-4. A 10-yard burst followed for another first down, and Hanson was able to kneel three times to send the Redskins to their ninth state title game.

“Those guys up front — Ben Olson, Eric Miller, John Fuentes, Tyler Hartley and Caleb Mitchell — they play with a lot of emotion and do a heck of a job,” Dergo said. “We had to get some tough yards and they were able to get it done.

“There’s something about this field. One year, Bishop Mac came in with a kid that was going to Michigan and they were going to run all over Morris. Another year, they had a kid going to Notre Dame and they were going to run all over us again. JCA had one of the best teams in the nation, Belvidere had the leading rusher in the state this year, and now Marian had all these guys. What was it? 10-9? We got ’em again.

“Call it a mystique or whatever, but these kids wanted to keep that tradition going.”

The Redskins began the theme of special teams play ruling the day early, when David Balzer gave them a lead with a 33-yard field goal in the first quarter. The boot capped a drive that used up 8:00 off the clock. Morris owned a 19:36-4:24 edge in time of possession in the first half.

After three incompletions by Budmayr (9-of-20, 161 yards, 1 interception), Marian punted to the Morris 4. On 3rd-and-11, Nathan Slattery ran for a 12-yard gain. A run by Hanson of 27 yards moved the ball to the Marian 47, but the drive stalled. Hanson’s punt was muffed by Marian, and Morris’ Ryan Hicks recovered at the Hurricanes’ 3. Tondini ran for a 2-yard gain and Hanson (11-of-18, 63 yards, 16 carries, 68 yards) scored on a 1-yard sneak. Balzer’s extra point gave Morris a 10-0 lead, which they took into halftime.

“Special teams won it for us tonight,” Dergo said. “We got a field goal, we recovered a fumble on the punt and we blocked an extra point.

“But you can’t forget about our defense. (Defensive coordinator) Andy Peterson really studies everything and does a fantastic job with these kids. I couldn’t pick a better defensive coach.”

One of the key players on the defensive side was Zach Thetard, who was recently named all-state. Besides catching 2 passes for 38 yards, Thetard helped limit the potent Marian passing attack with his coverage.

“The last few weeks were all about the front seven when we were playing running teams,” he said. “This week, it was our turn in the secondary. We drilled and drilled this week on covering our zones and the guys in those zones. Any small opening, and that quarterback (Budmayr) could put it in there. He is really good.

“We wanted to hit their receivers at the line and throw off their timing, and we were able to do that.

“Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed about this. Being a senior on the Redskins and playing for a chance to go state on this field. Every kid in Morris dreams about this. It’s the best feeling I’ve ever had. Maybe the second-best. The best will be if we win next week, but for right now, it’s the best.”

Ryan Clauson also had a huge game for the Morris defense, intercepting a pass and recovering a fumble.

“We knew they were going to pass and we had to get pressure on them,” he said. “On my interception, one of our linemen tipped the ball and it came right to me. I saw open field in front of me, but I slipped.

“It was huge for us to get out to that 10-0 lead and make them play from behind.”

Marian’s Simpson returned the second-half kickoff 58 yards to the Morris 40, finally being brought down by Balzer. The Hurricanes reached the Morris 11, but the Redskin defense stiffened and Cwynar got Marian on the board with a 20-yard field goal. After a Morris 3-and-out, Marian drove 51 yards for a touchdown, with Budmayr hitting Andrew Stochl with a 33-yard gain on 3rd-and-7 from the 35. Budmayr scored on the next play, setting the stage for Tondini.

“I’ve told people all along that this is a good team,” Dergo said. “I said it before the season started, I said it after the Pontiac game, I said it after the JCA game. Maybe one more win and people will start believing that this is a good team.

“This has really been a fun year. It’s different than my first two years. It’s just a riot with these kids. I love to go to practice with these guys. They just put their work hats on and go to work.”