football | Marist prevails while Winters cools Brother Rice back

By Jason Maholey
Mathematical editor

“Do your job.”

Former Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said this after losing to the dismal Washington Wizards.

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick was quoted as saying this as well.

In both examples, the point was that each player should focus individually on their duties and ultimately perform them as best they can so that the team has the greatest chance of success.

After Marist players and coaches watched film of the RedHawks’ Opening Week loss to Glenbard West and saw how they failed to take advantage of several opportunities during that game, “Do Your Job” became something of a team mantra before the Week 2 game against its rivals. Brother Rice.

The Marist players did their job — at least when it mattered most — and the Redhawks scored on a 33-yard touchdown run from Owen Winters to Stephen Brown with 38 seconds left to win the Battle of Pulaski, 30-24, in September 2018. 1.

A touchdown was Marist’s only score of the second half, and enabled the RedHawks to leave home victorious as the Crusaders rallied from a 24-point deficit to tie the game.

Marist coach Ron Duchak said the coaching staff assured the RedHawks players last week, “Understand that the guy next to you is going to get his job done.” “You have to do your part. Take a breath, step back, understand what your job is, and then go do your work.

“Do your job.”

Marist offensive lineman and wide receiver Gavin O’Brochta did their work on the game-winning drives. With Marist facing third-and-6 of his 26 with just over a minute to play, the streak gave Winters time to find O’Brochta on the upright toward the middle of the field for a 38-yard gain.

It was O’Brochta’s only score of the game.

“We’ve been working all summer on it,” Winters, a senior in his first year as a starter, said of the pass to Ubruchta. “I thought it was going to be open and there it was.”

Winters said he was “throwing it out there” in the game-winning game with the Browns — a 6-foot-6, 180-pound freshman with speed and physique.

“I think it was awesome. It feels great,” he said of playing and winning a competitive game before meeting Loyola in Week 3. We could have been better, but we did our best and got a ‘W’.”

Brown said he was ready to make a play but did not publicly solicit the ball on the RedHawks’ final drive.

“Of course I want to,” he said, “but I trust all my team-mates who have the ball in their hands will score when the game depends on it.” “This time it happened to be me.

“The midfielder trusted me, he dumped me, and I went and got him.”

Winters finished 11-for-24 for 172 yards and 1 touchdown to go with 15 rushes for 94 yards, including a 21-yard scoring run. Brown had four receptions for 107 yards.

Brother Rice senior quarterback Ryan Hartz threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns on 23 of 45 passes. Dylan McDonnell caught 10 passes for 119 yards and a score.

The RedHawks defense held Rice to 25 yards on 23 attempts.

Marist seemed to be running away from the game when senior linebacker Duke White returned a fumble 4 yards for a touchdown, which gave the ensuing extra point giving the RedHawks a 24-0 lead midway through the second quarter.

The Crusaders’ first kicker, Ronan Culkin, drilled a 22-yard field goal with 29 seconds left in the first half to put Rice on the board, perhaps providing a little extra hope before halftime.

The Crusaders scored on the opening drive of the second half on a 13-yard pass from Ryan Hartz to McDonnell, then found the end zone 40 seconds later when Jimmy Cherwinski blocked a penalty and Conner Stack picked up the rebound and returned it from 13 yards out to make it 24-17.

The Crusaders tied the game at 24 when Hartz threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Kevin Worthy as the third quarter ended.

This would be the final tally for either team until 38 seconds remained.

Dawczak said the way the RedHawks won — making some big plays in the big moments, overcoming adversity and leading Winters’ offense to game-winning touchdowns — is a confidence boost.

“We didn’t play a perfect match, but when they play together, do what they’re told and play with discipline, it’s really hard to beat us.

“We know we can do that when you do your job.”