Sports
Marian Football Has Taylor-Made Solution for QB Transfer
Spartans will turn to ground game and Jeruel Taylor and he'll be running behind a big offensive line.
Marian Catholic Spartans
Coach: Dave Mattio, 36th season.
Last year: 7-3 overall, 5-1 in the East Suburban Catholic.
Opener: Aug. 26 vs. St. Viator, 7:30 p.m.
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Outlook: Marian Catholic will try to make it back to the playoffs for the third year in a row. The Spartans will have to do it without quarterback John Rhode, who transferred over the summer to Montini. In his absence, the Spartans will look to 5-5 senior Robert Cifelli to take over at quarterback. The focus, like it was last year (384 rushes to 124 passes), will be on the running game. Jeruel Taylor is expected to be the featured back. The 5-11, 205-pound senior rushed for nearly 1,300 yards a year ago, and 6-3, 290-pound senior linemen Phil Faso figures to create a lot of holes for Taylor. The East Suburban Catholic will be tough, as always, with Carmel and Joliet Catholic being the teams to beat. The Spartan road games are to Benet (Sept. 2), Carmel (Sept. 16), St. Patrick (Sept. 23) and Joliet Catholic (Oct. 7). The Spartans will close the regular season with a home date vs. cross-town rival Bloom Township on Oct. 21.
Offense
Backs: The Spartans love to run the ball, and they figure to continue to do just that with as many as seven running backs seeing some action. In addition to Taylor, there are starters Randall Wells and Matt Simmons as well as Eric Hurley, Markus Burden, Troy Nutall and Kevin Aderemi.
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Line: The offensive line will be one of the biggest the Spartans have had in recent years. Along with Faso, there is 6-2, 210-pound center Jesse Kilbourn along with two guards (Faso and Kevin Pawlak) at 290 and 305 pounds and right and left tackles weighing 245 and 210 (Mike Coda and David Angell).
Tight ends/receivers: The Spartan will not have a tight end, but will have two threats at the receiving position, though, with wideouts Dominic Pascale and also Wells.
Placekicker: Sophomore soccer player Chris Taborn will be punting and placekicking for the Spartans.
Defense
Linebackers: Mattio said one of his chief concerns is identifying prospects to step up in this group and lead the Spartan defense. Three to watch: Byron Munoz, Jake Anderson and Mitch Weissenhoffer.
Line: Jack Ziltz (6-4, 265), Alex White (6-3, 245), Jake Bishop (6-1, 255) and Byron Munoz (6-2, 205) figure to put pressure on opposing teams all season long. Ziltz and White are returning starters.
Secondary: The strength of the Spartans is in their secondary. David Sowell and Jason Martinez are back and will be joined by juniors John Hotchkiss and Pat Swanson.
Coach Dave Mattio said: The season will be a success if “we finish 14-0 and we are state champions (tongue firmly planted in cheek). Everything now is getting into the playoffs and staying healthy and that is what my anticipation is. I don’t know what the record will be at that point, but that is what the goal for the kids will be. I expect us to be a very good football team. I think our scheme is really sound. It's just matter of how we react once we take the field.”
