Football: Second-Half Surge Propels Marian Past Bloom

Breaking it Down:  closed out its football season with a 21-13 win over crosstown rival  Friday night in Chicago Heights. The Spartans' defense bent but didn't break against the Blazing Trojans as Marian's David Sowell picked off a pass in the red zone and blocked a point after attempt to boost Marian to victory.

The Spartans offense was led by Jeruel Taylor, who found the end zone twice in the second half.

For Bloom, it was the LaVante Blackful show as the junior rushed and passed his way through the Spartans defense for most of the game. In the end, Blackful and the rest of the Blazing Trojans just didn't have enough get over the hump on Marian's home turf.

Patch’s MVP: David Sowell, Marian Catholic, defensive back. Sowell found himself in the right place at the right time twice as he notched a pick and a blocked point after attempt to hold the Blazing Trojans down. Sowell's pick came on the Marian 4 with Bloom threatening to take a 14-0 lead into the half.

Sowell's blocked point after attempt left the score 14-13 Marian with just 8:31 left and sealed the Spartans' victory.

Marian Catholic Stat Pack: Jeruel Taylor rushed for 98 yards and scored two touchdowns. Rob Cifelli threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Dominic Pascale in the fourth quarter to ice the game. Pascale finished with two catches for 23 yards and a touchdown.

Bloom Township Stat Pack: Blackful rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown. Shijuan Rogers caught a touchdown pass. Malcolm Way recovered a Marian fumble to set up the first Bloom score.

Quotable I: David Sowell, Marian Catholic, defensive back: “Last game of the season, I had to go out with a big one, I had to. I had to get my stats up, this is my last game as a senior. I had to go out with a bang.”

Quotable II: Tony Palombi, coach, Bloom Township: “We had to fight the whole game, try to really put it to them. Obviously, it didn't work our way, but hopefully the kids can take that into the off-season and work out, weight lift, play their other sports at 100 percent and, hopefully, that carries over into next season.”

Team Records: Marian wraps up the year 4-5 overall and 3-5 in East Suburban Catholic Conference play. Bloom finishes at 2-7 overall and 1-4 in Southland Conference play.

What’s Next: Both teams concluded their seasons.

Scores of Interest: Marist 56, Joliet Catholic Academy 51; Providence 24, Mount Carmel 18; Tinley Park 34, Bremen 29; Ricahrds 48, Argo 12. For updates on other games, check out the IHSA ScoreZone.