Marian overcame consecutive losses

By JOE STEVENSON - jstevenson@nwherald.com

Led by Jon Budmayr Marian (10-2) will play at Morris (10-2) at 6 p.m. today in a state semifinal game. (Rebekah Raleigh file photo)

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As bad as things looked for Marian Central in its 33-0 loss to Montini in Week 7, Hurricanes coach Ed Brucker was able to maintain perspective.

While the celebration continued on Montini’s side, Brucker met with his players on their own George Harding Field.

“Everything went right for them,” Brucker said. “They botch a snap on a screen play and it still goes for 65 yards [and a touchdown]. We played as bad as we could. Everything went against us.”

The Hurricanes, already without quarterback Jon Budmayr, lost several players with nagging injuries during the game. Brucker was forced to put players in who hadn’t had snaps with the first team that week in practice.

All was not lost, however.

“I told the kids in the huddle on the field that this may be a blessing in disguise, because we’re going to see these guys again,” Brucker said.

Brucker was correct. By the time Marian met Montini in the second round of the IHSA Class 5A playoffs, Budmayr had recovered from his left hamstring injury and was on fire. Now, it’s Marian (10-2) that will play at Morris (10-2) at 6 p.m. today in a semifinal game, and the losses to Montini and Driscoll in Weeks 7 and 8 are distant memories.

“Week 7 was kind of a wake-up call,” Marian guard Eric Parker said. “The Driscoll game [a 21-7 loss the following week] was a tough game, but the focus during that week was a lot better, so it helped to kind of get it back. It’s been progressing, taking that next step and making sure we’re more focused in practice.”

Brucker agrees the focus was not what it should have been for Montini, which was ranked No. 2 in the state, one spot behind Marian, in Class 5A that week.

“I felt like there were players who didn’t really show up to play,” Brucker said. “We talked about that and got that straightened around. Against Driscoll we played well, we just needed to clean up some mistakes.”

Junior Cody O’Neill, a two-way starter at tackle, thinks the Hurricanes made a positive out of their low point.

“It was very interesting to see how people responded from it,” O’Neill said. “We all realized everybody had to play a part for us to win. Everybody kind of buckled down and started working more as a team.”

In the back of the coaches’ and players’ minds, also, was the knowledge Budmayr’s leg was almost healed. He returned against Driscoll and then helped the Hurricanes beat St. Francis, 30-21, in the final game. In three playoff games, Budmayr has completed 59 percent of his passes for 1,002 yards, with seven touchdowns and no interceptions.

“Jon does give us a certain confidence in the huddle,” Brucker said.

Marian has racked up 109 points in its playoff victories over Sterling, Montini and Nazareth Academy. Budmayr directed a fourth-quarter comeback drive last week, hitting Karsten Hamilton-Smith for the winning touchdown.

“The big thing we wanted was redemption with Montini,” Parker said. “Last week, we were still kind of riding a high, and maybe we weren’t as focused. This week I think we’ll come out and have a good week of practice.”

IHSA’s Best Playoff Teams

Here’s a look at the best football playoff teams in Illinois history (all teams are 30 or more games over .500 for their playoff history).

School Record Win%

Chicago Mount Carmel 85-13 86.7

Driscoll 52-9 85.2

Joliet Catholic 88-18 83.0

Wheaton-Warrenville South 54-13 80.6

Providence Catholic 69-19 78.4

Marian Central 44-13 77.2

East St. Louis 66-21 75.9

Morris 56-21 72.7

DuQuoin 56-22 71.8

Geneseo 59-28 67.8