Nov. 28--Some of Tolono Unity's fans and coaches were upset by Bishop McNamara's successful two-point conversion late in the third quarter of a rout.
The play, with holder Dylan Post running the ball in, extended the Fightin' Irish's lead to 50-0 on their way to a 50-7 win in Friday's Class 3A championship at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. There was some confusion among neutral observers about whether the run was the result of a trick play or a mid-play change of plans.
When asked about the play after the game, Unity coach Scott Hamilton deferred comment while visibly perturbed.
"You get in these games and you control what you can control," Hamilton said. "There's not much I'm going to talk about with that."
According to McNamara coach Rich Zinanni, the two-pointer was unplanned.
"It was a bad snap," Zinanni said. "There was a 'fire' call when the ball hit the ground. We weren't trying to get a cheap score or run it up."
McNamara's rare receiver: Among the Fightin' Irish's many weapons that had Unity's players and coaches shaking their heads, receiver Chris Bell stood out.
The 6-foot-1 Bell made one of the best of the Irish's many highlight plays when he outjumped a Unity defender on a 28-yard lob pass from Kobe Shutter late in the first quarter.
"We had a guy right where he was supposed to be," Hamilton said. "Sometimes you run into a situation where the team you're playing is just a different animal."
"Chris just keeps getting better every year," Shutter said. "Me and Chris are like a perfect match."
Transfers get trophy: A year ago, Amir Watts and Donald Gardner experienced one victory at De La Salle. On Friday, Watts and Gardner were starters and captains for Phillips in a 51-7 victory over Belleville Althoff in the Class 4A state final.
Both players contributed as Phillips became the first Public League school to capture a state football championship. Watts had three sacks and a 19-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown. Gardner, a defensive back, had a team-high two pass breakups.
"Coming from a 1-8 season to winning a state championship is just amazing," Watts said.
Catholic League has chance for triple: With Bishop McNamara's victory in the Class 3A title game, the Catholic League has a chance to win three state championships in the same season for the first time.
Montini will take on Crete-Monee in the 6A final and Loyola will face Marist in the 8A game. They're both 13-0.
Most conferences are not composed of schools from more than two classes.
The Catholic League expanded from three divisions to four in 2014 following the dissolution of the Suburban Christian Conference, of which Montini was a member.
Family reunion: The family angle has been a big story all season for Tri-Valley, with Josh Roop coaching the Vikings and his senior son Peyton as the team's star quarterback.
But it doesn't end there. "My nephew (Cole Maxedon) is on Auburn's team as a freshman," Josh Roop said. "What an experience for our family. It's a blessing."
