Budmayr return can't save Hurricanes

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

WOODSTOCK – Last week, against Montini, Marian Central struggled all night long in a one-sided loss.

On Friday, a full week later, things were different. The offense, with quarterback Jon Budmayr back after missing four games with a hamstring injury, was moving.

That is what made this loss, a 21-7 home Suburban Catholic Conference defeat against Driscoll, so difficult to take.

This time, Marian had chances.

“Penalties and turnovers just killed us, especially the turnovers,” lineman Sean Cwynar said.

A few moments earlier, running back Doug Simpson said nearly the same thing. Ten minutes later, back in the Hurricanes’ locker room, coach Ed Brucker, almost word-for-word, recited the same line.

On Friday, against the top-ranked team in The Associated Press Class 4A state rankings, Marian indeed had chances.

But a fumble at the goal line by running back T.J. Pappas with 1.1 seconds remaining in the first half with the game tied at 7-all and a missed field goal midway through the third quarter prevented Marian from handing Driscoll, the six-time defending state champions, its first loss of the season.

Instead, the Hurricanes (6-2 overall, 4-2 SCC), ranked No. 3 in Class 5A, lost for the second time in as many weeks.

“We really played well,” Brucker said. “We just made some mistakes, stuff we just have to clean up.”

Marian, with Budmayr back behind center, totaled 369 yards of total offense; Driscoll had only 193. Budmayr threw for 158 yards, but was intercepted twice. Simpson ran for 138 yards.

Still, when it was over, the Hurricanes had only seven points.

“We learned a lot these last two games,” Cwynar said. “It’s a good learning experience that we can take into the playoffs.”

The two teams traded touchdowns in the first quarter, and the score stood still until the fourth. Driscoll quarterback Steve Schwabe broke the tie with a 22-yard touchdown run with 4:19 remaining. The Highlanders (8-0, 6-0) put the game away when Trace Jenkins intercepted Budmayr with just under 1 minute to play and went 17 yards for the touchdown.

“Getting turnovers, that’s what coach pounds into us during training camp,” Schwabe said.