The Saint Patrick Shamrocks bounced back from their disappointing opener in a big way, as they dismantled the 17th ranked Trevians of New Trier 42-21 on August 31 at Hanson Stadium.  The Shamrocks built a 21-0 halftime lead, and cruised to an easy victory over one of the top programs in the area.

The Shamrocks took control of the game from the start.  They let the Trevians know it was going to be a long night when they took the opening kickoff and drove 78 yards on 14 plays for a touchdown, while taking six minutes and forty-eight seconds off of the clock.  Luis Sanchez capped the drive with a five-yard touchdown run around left end.  The key play of the drive was a 25-yard completion from Conor Joyce to Patrick Whalen on a fake punt on fourth and two from the Shamrock forty-two.

New Trier tried to respond, but their first drive stalled after a 52-yard George Brigandi touchdown run was negated by a holding penalty.  Cale Patterson’s punt pinned the Shamrocks inside their own 10-yard line.  When Saint Patrick failed to get a first down, and Joyce’s punt went off the side of his foot, New Trier got the ball with a short field, at the Shamrock 27.  The Trevians drove deep into Shamrock territory, and had first and goal to go at the Saint Patrick six.  Brigandi was stopped on first down, and Dillon Napoleon threw an incomplete pass on second down.  On third down, a blitzing David Giese crushed Napoleon as he threw.  The ball floated over the middle of the field, wher Mike Labek hauled it in for an interception at the Shamrock six.  Four plays later, Adam Nitsche broke through the Trevian defense for an 82-yard touchdown run that made it 13-0.

The Trevians drove into Shamrock territory, but they were forced to punt.  Tim Platt blocked the punt and the Shamrocks recovered at their own 48 with 5:45 to go in the half.  Saint Patrick went on an 11-play drive that essentially finished the first half.  Sanchez finished the drive with his second touchdown run of the game, this one a three-yard scamper around right end.  Mike Fabrizio hit Jeff Dicks with a pass for the two-point conversion, and the score was 21-0 in favor of the Shamrocks at halftime.

The Trevians got on the board early in the second half, as they drove 65-yards in eight plays to open the third quarter, with Brigandi scoring on a one-yard run to make it 21-7.  Saint Patrick came right back with another long, clock-eating drive.  This one covered 73 yards on 12 plays, with Whalen crashing in from three yards out for the score to make it 28-7 Shamrocks.  New Trier went three and out on their next possession, and the Shamrocks took over at their own 29 with 1:50 to play in the third quarter.  On the first play of the fourth quarter, Fabrizio froze the New Trier defense with a pump fake, and then he lofted a beautiful pass down the right sideline to Jeff Dohnal for a 49-yard touchdown. 

New Trier scored on their next possession, when Napoleon hit Jon Michaels for a 64-yard touchdown.  On the trevians next possession, Labek jumped an out route, and intercepted a Napoleon pass.  Labek returned the interception 62-yards for a touchdown that iced the game.  Drew Goldsmith added a late touchdown for New Trier.

The Shamrocks thoroughly dominated the game, controlling the ball for 31:31 to New Trier’s 16:29.  Nine different Shamrocks rushed for the Shamrocks as they rolled up 238 yards on the ground.  Nitsche (four carries for 90 yards), and Sanchez (21 rushes for 77 yards) led the ground attack.  Fabrizio was very efficient at quarterback, making plays when the Shamrocks needed him to.  Fabrizio finished 12 of 17 for 159 yards and a touchdown.  Of Fabrizio’s five incompletions, the intended receivers dropped at least three.  Jeff Dohnal caught four passes for 89 yards, and Eddie Ortiz and Jeff Dicks each caught three passes.

Defensively, Joyce and George Vitzileos each recorded six tackles.  Labek had five tackles to go with his two interceptions, and Giese had four tackles for the Shamrocks.  The Shamrock defense limited Napoleon to five of 16 passing for 113 yards and two interceptions.