Ferguson, defense pack punch for JCA

JOLIET — One hand washes the other.

The Joliet Catholic Academy defense has never been better. The idea, as 235-pound senior tackle Tyler Gannon said, was to "punch 'em in the mouth."

The Hilltoppers' offense, well, that's where junior wingback Josh Ferguson entered the picture. Enough said.

JCA held Troy Triad to negative yardage until a fourth-quarter drive and Ferguson danced and juked his way to four long touchdown runs as the Hilltoppers opened the Class 5A playoffs Saturday afternoon with a 48-7 thumping of Triad at Memorial Stadium.

Next up for the Hilltoppers (8-2) is the long trip to Cahokia next weekend.

Triad (7-3) came to Joliet with the plan to move the chains with its triple-option offense, thus keeping JCA's potent offense on the sidelines. The Hilltoppers' defense never let it happen.

Triad, in fact, had one first down through three quarters, that on a penalty. And the Knights had minus-8 total yards before embarking on a scoring drive against JCA's second-team defense.

From the time JCA defensive end Rob Cranmer spilled Triad quarterback Kristian Moon for a 2-yard loss on the opening play from scrimmage, there no doubt doubt who was in charge in the trenches.

The Hilltoppers' defensive front of Cranmer, Gannon, Michael Madrigal and John Broderick, backed by linebackers such as Stockman, Zach Dolph and Mike Mettille, safeties Travis Jensen and Garrett Earl and corners Matt Smith and Breion Tucker, were not about to shirk their responsibilities.

"Basically, we just had to fire out and set the offensive line back 2 yards," Gannon said. "You know, punch 'em in the mouth."

Thirteen of the Knights' 35 offensive snaps went for negative yardage. They finished with 40 net yards. They lost two fumbles and Tucker intercepted a pass.

"Our coaches blitzed me a lot," said Stockman, who blew up play after play with his timing and quickness. "The only kid I have to deal with is Gannon."

Meaning?

"Well, when we blitz, we try to outsmart the offensive linemen," Stockman said. "Tyler sets up on one side of the offensive lineman's shoulder and takes him the other way. I go through the hole that's created. We confuse people sometime."

Stockman was in on four of the plays for negative yardage. Gannon and Cranmer on three each, Earl had two sacks, Zach Dolph and Andy Roth recovered fumbles, Broderick shared a tackle for loss and reserve linebacker Austin Able had a sack.

Just before halftime, Gannon and Cranmer combined to sack Moon and force a fumble. Dolph picked it up and appeared headed to a touchdown, only to get tripped up at midfield by Gannon as the big tackle hustled to get into position to perhaps throw a block.

"Against a double-wing option attack, you'll have big plays made if your defensive guys are not disciplined," JCA coach Dan Sharp said. "Our guys were disciplined today. We attacked the mesh point in their option with force. Jake (Stockman) had to make quick decisions as our middle linebacker. He put a couple hits on their fullback early on, and that really set the tone."

Tone being set, the offense was ready to do its part.

On JCA's second play from scrimmage, senior fullback Jordan Lyles popped through the middle and took it 54 yards for the game's first score. Cranmer kicked the first of his six conversions to make it 7-0 with 9:10 left in the first quarter.

The next possession began on the JCA 34, and on the first play, the highlight reel otherwise known as Ferguson began to roll. He went 66 yards up the middle to the first of his four TDs and a 14-0 Hilltopper lead.

Ferguson would score on a 16-yard run in the second quarter and on 41- and 29-yard runs in the third quarter, every one seemingly more awe-inspiring.

"He is a human Madden game," Sharp said of Ferguson, who rushed 9 times for 214 yards and caught a pass for 11 yards. "Triad played us hard defensively, and our blocking was not all that consistent. But our backs made guys miss, especially Ferguson. He changes the course of the game."

Ferguson has rushed for 1,144 yards for the season.

The highlights did not end there, however. Lyles, helped by his long early TD run, finished with 119 yards in 12 carries. Sophomore Malin Jones ran hard and finished with 86 in 15 carries. And freshman Ty Isaac added 64 yards in 5 trips, including a 54-yard scoring run down the right sideline in the final minute that was another one you had to see to appreciate.

"To have Ty on the varsity with more years, he's getting great experience," said Sharp, whose team closed with 498 rushing yards and 509 total.

"We made mistakes offensively today, but the backs picked us up, and our defense really picked us up," Sharp added.

"I was glad to see us drive the ball in the third quarter. That was very important. We have come out after halftime and played well ever since Marist (when JCA lost a 14-0 halftime lead and eventually the game)."

Senior quarterback Mark Krok played the entire second half Saturday. Sharp said sophomore starter Anthony Maddie has a sprained ring finger on his throwing hand and had difficulty gripping the ball, and he also split his tongue just before halftime when he attempted to get in on the tackle after throwing an interception.

"This was a good opportunity to get Mark in the game, and Anthony will be fine for next week," Sharp said.

Just so the Hilltoppers can handle a long bus ride.