In preparation for the program’s first state semifinal in 23 years, Waubonsie Valley quarterback Jack Connolly acknowledged a simple truth.
Marist’s high-potent offense, spearheaded by the dual-threat quarterback Brendan Skalitzky, would be indeed the best offense Waubonsie Valley had seen all year.
On Saturday, Skalitzky showed why.
Skalitzky’s three touchdowns helped propel 23rd-seeded Marist to a 31-16, wire-to-wire victory over 30th-seeded Waubonsie Valley in Chicago.
The RedHawks’ 6-foot, 180-pound quarterback accounted for 300 total yards and the three touchdowns – two of which were touchdown passes to Liam Keffer.
Marist (9-5) moves on to face Loyola in DeKalb for the Class 8A state title next Saturday.
Connolly’s two-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter to end a 16-play drive got Waubonsie Valley (8-5) to within 24-16.
Skalitzky, however, was able to lead the Marist offense on one more touchdown drive as Darshon McCullough’s 18-yard touchdown run with less than two minutes to play effectively sealed matters.
Connolly did throw for 139 yards as the RedHawks never really allowed the Warriors to get into a flow.
Waubonsie running back Max Ihry went over the 100-yard mark for a fourth straight week and ninth time this season, as he ran for 121 yards on 17 carries.
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