Nov. 29--DEKALB, Ill. -- Marist senior quarterback Brendan Skalitzky hoped to be part of a touchdown or two on Saturday. He ended up stopping one instead.
Instead of showing off his passing skills, Skalitzky's tackling ability turned out to be one of Marist's biggest highlights in the RedHawks' 41-0 loss against Loyola in the Class 8A state championship at Huskie Stadium.
Skalitzky stopped a potential touchdown by Loyola with a tackle on a fumble return late in the first half. That's how bad things went in Marist's third state final appearance.
In the final seconds of the second quarter, Skalitzky was stripped of the ball in the backfield. After being tackled near the 50-yard line, Skalitzky quickly rose to his feet, darted downfield and forced a fumble, but that loose ball was recovered by Loyola's Cross Daffada at Marist's 18-yard line.
"I also forced a fumble on that first tackle," Skalitzky said, letting out a small smile after a rough day. "They just flew to the ball and were unbelievably fast and so well-coached and disciplined. I'm kind of speechless because that was one of the best defenses I've ever seen. They took advantage of every mistake we made."
The 6-foot, 180-pound Skalitzky entered the 8A final as one of the premier signal-callers in the state. He passed for 3,529 yards and 38 touchdowns and led the RedHawks with 1,067 yards rushing and nine touchdowns in the RedHawks' first 13 games. Loyola's stout defense kept the prolific passer well below his season average. Skalitzky finished 13-for-32 for 176 yards. Skalitzky completed a 46-yard pass to Darshon McCullough with 2 minutes left in regulation, but his next pass was intercepted by Loyola's Matt Sheridan in the end zone.
The Ramblers allowed Marist, which was averaging 37.9 points and 430.1 yards per game entering the state final, to tally only 73 yards in the first half, 97 yards through three quarters and 174 for the game. The RedHawks were held to 13 yards of total offense through their first five possessions.
Marist actually did reach the end zone, on a touchdown that was called back. Skalitzky's 6-yard touchdown pass to James Dunican in the second quarter was negated because of an illegal block.
Although Marist's season ended via a blowout defeat, the RedHawks bucked the odds as one of the most unlikely teams to land a spot in the state finals. Marist was the fifth team to finish the regular season with a 5-4 record and reach the state final.
"This is something I'll never forget," Skalitzky said. "We never gave up the whole time and made it to the state championship, but we didn't get the ultimate goal. ... Our names will go down in the history of Marist, a run we'll never forget."
Bob Narang is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
