The Saint Patrick Shamrocks traveled to Joliet to face the #7 ranked Hilltoppers of Joliet Catholic Academy in their East Suburban Catholic Conference opener on September 7.  Both teams carried identical 1-1 non-conference records into the game. 

The Hilltoppers feature one of the top rushing attacks in the state, averaging 312 yards per game on the ground coming into the game.  Against the Shamrocks, the Hilltoppers displayed an aerial attack that few people knew they possessed.  Hilltopper quarterback John Ruettiger was almost perfect, completing all six of his pass attempts for 200 yards and three touchdowns, as Joliet outscored Saint Patrick 43-7 in the first half. 

The game started poorly for the Shamrocks as they took the opening kickoff and were stopped on three plays.  When Conor Joyce, the Shamrock punter, was tackled at the Shamrock 10 on fourth down, the Hilltoppers were set up with a short field.  Two plays later, Ruettiger hit Connor Krisch for a six-yard touchdown pass.

The Shamrocks responded by taking the ball 64 yards on 17 plays on their next possession, before turning the ball over on downs at the Hilltopper 16.  Two plays later, Ruettiger hit Tyler Hudetz on an 83-yard scoring strike to make it 15-0.  Saint Patrick went three and out again, and Joliet Catholic got the ball back at midfield.  Four plays later, Krisch scored on a one-yard plunge to make it 22-0.

The Shamrocks got on the board on their next possession, driving 80 yards in nine plays.  Mike Fabrizio hooked up with Eddie Ortiz on a 20-yard touchdown pass.  Ortiz ran an out and up pattern down the right sideline, and Fabrizio lobbed the ball into the corner of the end zone, over the Hilltopper defender, where Ortiz made a spectacular diving catch.  Joyce added the extra point to cut the lead to 22-7.  Brandon Geiss returned the ensuing kickoff 50 yards to the Shamrock 37.  Six plays later, Hudetz scored on a one-yard run. 

On their next possession, the Shamrocks were unable to get a first down, and the Hilltoppers got the ball at the Shamrock 40.  On the first play from scrimmage, Ruettiger hit Tim Bennett for a 40-yard touchdown.  Ortiz fumbled the ball away following a 38-yard return if the ensuing kickoff, and the Hilltoppers capitalized with a five-play, 41-yard scoring drive that made it 43-7 at the half.

The two teams traded touchdown drives to open the second half.  Fabrizio hit Sam Chwarzynski over the middle for a 13-yard score.  The Hilltoppers added a fourth quarter touchdown to make the final score 56-14.

The Hilltoppers took advantage of outstanding field position all game, five of Joliet Catholic’s nine drives started in Shamrock territory, and their average starting field position for the game was the Saint Patrick 46-yard line.

Fabrizio finished the game 7 of 16 for 94 yards, with two touchdown passes and no interceptions.  Danny DiCanio came off the bench and connected with Ortiz for a 45-yard gain after catching a lateral from Fabrizio on a double-pass play.  Ortiz caught two balls for 65 yards to lead the receivers.  Adam Nitsche gained 63 yards on 17 carries to pace the Shamrock rushing attack.  David Giese and Joyce led the Shamrock defense with seven tackles apiece, while George Vitzileos added six stops.

Next week the Shamrocks travel to Westchester, where they will face the Chargers of Saint Joseph in an E.S.C.C. game on Saturday afternoon.  Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00pm.