The Shamrocks completely controlled the game from the start. Marian started at their own 20, following a touchback on the opening kickoff. The Spartans went three and out, actually losing 10 yards on a penalty before punting.

Matt Ledenbach’s 12-yard punt return set the Shamrocks up at the Marian 26. The Shamrocks moved the ball only four yards before Chris Gasiorek came on for a 40-yard field goal attempt. Gasiorek’s kick was blocked, and Marian recovered it at their own 24.

On third down, Dietz sacked Marian quarterback Zachary Denny, popping the football loose. Matt Labek grabbed the ball out of the air, and the Shamrocks were in business at the Marian 19. Brian Felke carried four times, but Saint Patrick failed to get a first down.

Marian took over on downs at their own 17. For the third straight drive the Spartan offense was stuck in reverse. This Spartan drive lasted six plays and lost four yards. Ledenbach’s second outstanding punt return, this one for 21 yards, gave the ball to the Shamrocks at the Marian 24.

A Dietz run, and a Tom Barrett to Nick Infante completion put the ball at the Marian eight. Dietz scored the game’s first points on an eight-yard run, and the Shamrocks were up 7-0 with 2:22 remaining in the first quarter. At this point Marian was lucky to still be in the game. After three possessions, they had moved the ball –18 yards, and Saint Patrick had gotten the ball inside the Marian 30 all three times.

The Shamrock offense finally got going and took advantage of the outstanding field position given to them by their defense in the second quarter, scoring touchdowns on three consecutive drives. Barrett finished a four-play, 41-yard drive by hitting Infante for a 20-yard touchdown that made it 13-0 with 7:07 left in the first half.

After yet another Marian punt, Ledenbach again set the Shamrocks up as his 18-yard return gave Saint Patrick the ball at the Marian 41. Dietz did all the work on this drive, carrying four times and scoring on a 32-yard run to make it 19-0 with 3:33 left in the second quarter.

The Shamrocks got an opportunity to work their two minute drill, getting the ball back at their own 41 with 2:36 remaining in the half. Barrett drove the Shamrocks in for a score with only five seconds remaining in the half. Barrett completed four passes for 57 yards on the drive, including a perfectly thrown, six-yard fade pattern to Jason Genova in the left corner of the end zone to make it 26-0.

At halftime, Marian had eight possessions, running 26 plays for negative 16 yards. The Spartans never advanced beyond their own 38-yard line in the first 24 minutes of play.

Saint Patrick chose to rest their starters on both sides of the ball for most of the second half, and the Shamrock offense sputtered, gaining only 20 yards on their final six possessions.

The Shamrock defense continued to terrorize the Spartan starters. Before Marian went on a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive mid-way through the fourth quarter, they had run 39 plays and moved the ball a grand total of 20 yards in the wrong direction. Denny was 4 of 21 for 16 yards outside of the one Marian scoring drive

Offensively the Shamrocks gained 283 yards on 66 plays, rushing for 164 on 44 carries, and throwing for 119 yards as a team. Barrett completed 9 of 16 passes for 110 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Nick Infante (four catches, 50 yards) and Jason Genova (3 catches, 40 yards) were Barrett’s favorite targets. Nine different Shamrocks carried the ball, paced by Dietz’s 126 yards and two scores.

Next week, the Shamrocks begin the IHSA playoffs with pairings to be determined on Saturday, October 23.