The playoff hopes of the Saint Patrick Shamrocks took a hit when the Red Hawks of Marist 10-0 shut them out at home on September 22.  Saint Patrick fell to 2-3 overall and 1-2 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference.  Saint Patrick will need to go 3-1 in their final four games to earn a playoff berth.   

The Shamrocks took the opening kickoff and drove 39 yards on 10 plays, before turning the ball over on downs when tailback Adam Nitsche was stopped on fourth and two at the Marist 18 yard line.  That opening drive was the longest drive that either team could put together in the first half.

On the first play of the second quarter Marist punted the ball from their own 41 yard line.  The Shamrock return man muffed the ball, and the Red Hawks recovered at the Shamrock 21.  The Red Hawks drove inside the 10 yard line, but turned the ball over when Bill Seiler fumbled the ball and Steve Odarczenko recovered for the Shamrocks.  That was the closest either team would get to scoring in the first half.

It seemed that this game would be decided by a big break, and that break came on the Shamrocks first possession, when Nitsche fumbled and the Red Hawks recovered at the Shamrock 22.  Four plays later, Matt Mulcahey hit tight end Colin Monnier over the middle for an eight-yard touchdown pass to give Marist a 7-0 lead.

The Shamrocks drove into Red Hawk territory on each of their next two drives, but were forced to punt both times.  Red Hawk return man Tom Skalitzky saved Marist from getting pinned deep in their own territory with returns of 12 and 29 yards.

Marist iced the game with a 12 play, 61-yard drive that took over six minutes off of the clock in the fourth quarter.  Tim Schmidt capped the drive with a 19-yard field goal that put Marist ahead by two scores with only 2:20 left to play in the game.  The Shamrocks drove 68 yards on their final possession, but left the ball at the Marist one-yard line as time expired.

Nitsche led the Shamrock ground attack with 63 yards on 15 carries, while quarterback Mike Fabrizio completed 14 of 27 passes for 123 yards.  Eddie Ortiz caught four passes for 38 yards, and Brian Falagario caught three balls for 33 yards.

The Shamrock defense played another solid hard-hitting game, holding Marist to 162 yards on 49 offensive plays.  George Vitzileos finished with nine tackles and two tackles for loss to lead the Shamrocks.  Conor Joyce made seven tackles, and Matt Hansen added six.  David Giese and Nitsche each had four tackles and half of a quarterback sack.

Next week the Shamrocks host the Corsairs of Carmel for their Homecoming Game on Friday night at Hanson Stadium.  Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30pm.