Late hit sparks Brother Rice’s rally past St. Rita
By Bill Harrison For Sun-Times Media November 17, 2012 10:56PM
Updated: December 19, 2012 1:27PM
In the third quarter Brother Rice quarterback Matt Page took a late hit from St. Rita’s 6-foot-7 defensive lineman Eddie Randle. Randle drove Page back 10 yards off the sideline, prompting a rush from the Crusader’s players and a disgruntled chant from the home crowd.
Nobody retaliated, so instead of a 4th and 4, the Crusaders got a new set of downs and subsequently a new life during their improbable 34-30 comeback win on Saturday in the Catholic League title game.
“That got my lineman fired up, they don’t like seeing me get hit,” said Page, who finished with 273 yards passing and all three of his touchdown passes to Malik Moody.
On the next play, Luke Mueller ran it in from 2-yards out, firing his team up even more and pulling the Crusaders within 30-20 after trailing 30-14 at the half. A 2-yard run by page early in the fourth and a 30-yard pass to Moody with 2:49 left would complete the comeback.
The Crusaders (7-5) will meet Simeon on Friday in the Prep Bowl at Soldier Field. The Mustangs (6-6) lose for the second time this season to the Crusaders
“They were fired up at halftime,” Brother Rice coach Brian Bradke said. “We knew St. Rita was going to come out fighting to start the game.”
Tim Lombard led the Mustangs in the first half with four touchdowns — 72, 36, 33, and 2. He finished with 229 yards on 24 carries. The Mustangs final drive stalled at the nine yard line after a sack by Brian Craft and an incomplete pass.
