Drake Skleba for Joliet Catholic Academy
After winning “The Battle of Mount Greenwood” against the mighty Crusaders of Brother Rice, last Friday night, our top-ranked Hilltoppers will travel to Benedictine University in Lisle. At 7:30 p.m. Friday night, the Hilltoppers (7-0) will meet the 4-3 Redwings of Benet Academy, in another CCL-ESCC cross-over game.
The Hilltoppers will be led by their senior field general, quarterback Aidan Voss, who has completed 31 of his 57 passes on the season, for 666 yards and eight touchdowns. Voss can run, too, as he proved to be as elusive a quarterback, as Brother Rice’s All-Everything quarterback Jack Lausch, in the Hilltoppers huge win last Friday.
Voss out-rushed Lausch 70-54 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown run against the Crusaders
Voss to Fieldman
The lethal Hilltopper passing combo, has connected for seven touchdown catches, on the season. Fieldman has 15 receptions for 392 yards and seven TDs. Who can forget the unbelievable one-handed touchdown reception by senior fullback Ryan Louthan, against St. Laurence, for the other Voss touchdown toss, this season
“The Deadly Duo” + two
Senior running back Vinny Iannantone, has rushed for 1,047 yards on the season, with 11 touchdowns.
The other half of The Deadly Duo”, senior All-American running back Jordan Anderson, has rushed for 616 yards and 12 touchdowns. Anderson has needed just 56 carries to achieve his 616 yards rushing, for an 11-yards-per-carry average.
Voss and Louthan, have combined for close to 600 yards rushing, behind “The Hogs”
T Josh Jones 6-2 295 pounds
G Anthony Birsa 6-2 265 pounds
C Niko Paolino 6-2 295 pounds
G Paul Ragusa 6-0 215 pounds
T Luke Sartori 6-5 335 pounds
The Hilltopper defense is led by All-State LB Mike Rouse and All-State cornerback Malachi Hood.
“Mr. Automatic” junior place-kicker Pat Durkin has been almost perfect on his points-after-touchdowns, in 2021.
The Redwings are led by their junior quarterback Antonio Picciolini who has thrown for 892 yards and eight touchdowns. Picciolini has rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Junior wide-receiver Pat Walsh, is Picciolini’s favorite target, with 23 catches for 289 yards and two touchdowns.
Senior Jack Kane has hauled in 21 of Picciolini’s tosses, for 274 yards and two touchdowns, while junior Mike Lawler has 15 catches for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Lawler is the Redwings leading rusher with 200 yards and a touchdown.
In the Redwings 23-21 victory over state-ranked Moline, in Week 2, the Redwings lost the services of their leading rusher, Carson Forney. In two games, Forney had rushed for 266 yards and three touchdowns. Forney’s playing status is unknown at this time.
“The Drive for 15” will continue with a stop in beautiful Lisle, Illinois. We hope to see our Hill Zone out in large numbers on Friday night?
IHSA ASSOCIATED PRESS CLASS 4A STATE RANKINGS.
- JOLIET CATHOLIC ACADEMY (10) 7-0
- SPRINGFIELD SACRED-HEART GRIFFIN 6-1
- RICHMOND-BURTON 7-0
- KEWANEE 7-0
- GENOA-KINGSTON 6-1
- CHICAGO PHILLIPS 5-2
- WHEATON ST FRANCIS 5-2
- COAL CITY 5-2
- STILLMAN VALLEY 6-1
- PEORIA NOTRE DAME 5-2
ILLINOIS’ TOP TEN SCORING OFFENSES
- FAIRFIELD 7-0 51.2 PPG
- ATHENS 6-1 50.8 PPG
- CARROLTON 7-0 49.4 PPG
- EAST ST LOUIS 6-1 49.4 PPG
- CARY-GROVE 7-0 48.1 PPG
- DECATUR ST.TERESA 7-0 47.1 PPG
- NORMAL COMM. 6-1 46.8 PPG
- ROCHESTER 6-1 45.2 PPG
- REED-CUSTER 6-1 45.1PPG
- JOLIET CATHOLIC 7-0 44.7PPG
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