Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Dave Mattio, one of the last to leave Hancock Stadium Friday night, was sitting in the hallway savoring the moment.
Up stepped Marian Catholic defensive back Jeremy McMahon.
“Coach, where are all the championship medals?” he asked.
“I have them right here in my pocket,” Mattio replied.
“Can I have one?” McMahon said.
There isn’t a medal shiny enough to pin on McMahon after the 5-foot-8-inch, 165-pound senior leaped and stretched his body to the limit in deflecting the biggest pass of his life. It gave Marian Catholic a 13-6 victory over Geneseo Darnall in the Class 4A title game, allowing the Spartans to bring back to Chicago Heights the school’s first state championship in any sport.
“It reminded me of the Notre Dame-Florida State game,” said defensive tackle Brian Kochanski, who kicked two field goals. “Except this was a little bigger of a game.”
The ending was just as tense. Marian Catholic (14-0) was clinging precariously to the seven-point lead as Geneseo (12-1) began its final drive with 3 minutes 57 seconds to go and advanced to the Spartan 17 with :22 left.
That the Maple Leafs’ last gasp was tinged with a kind of heroism all its own only made Marian’s ultimate triumph that much more priceless. None of the Spartans will ever forget the inspired play of Geneseo fullback Jeremiah Shoemaker, whose 111 yards on 17 carries included a stunning 73-yard burst through the heart of a gritty Marian defense. They’ll recall, in a cold sweat, the unexpected halfback-option pass from Shane Hudnall that hung up a moment long enough for safety Kevin Coy to deflect it in the end zone.
A Nate Durick-to-Troy Boelens completion left the Leafs 10 yards from extending their season with :03 on the clock.
“We were all a little nervous,” McMahon said. “When no one came into my zone, I dropped back a little. I stayed home in case their quarterback tried to run. After I knocked the pass down, it was the greatest feeling ever.”
On a night when Marian All-Stater Terence Marable was held to 73 yards rushing by an icy turf and a new-look Geneseo defense, his teammates filled the void.
“I saw him after the game, and he felt like he didn’t accomplish anything,” said quarterback Brian VanderLuitgaren. “He had a good game. It’s just that people expect him to run for 100 yards every game.”
Geneseo changed its defensive alignment and focused on stopping Marable. That gave VanderLuitgaren his opening.
“I saw the field conditions and remembered hearing the announcer in the Dallas-Miami Thanksgiving game,” VanderLuitgaren said. “He said it’s better to throw in this kind of weather. I thought to myself: `All right! This will be my time to shine.’ “
He could barely contain his excitement in the huddle while calling Marian’s biggest offensive play of the game. It was tied at 6 when VanderLuitgaren hit Sean Egglesfield with a 64-yard pass that would set up the quarterback’s 1-yard touchdown run behind fullback Dana Smith’s block.
“It was third down and we hadn’t scored,” VanderLuitgaren said. “It was getting a little scary. Dana told me, `If you get in trouble, follow me. I’ll get you into the end zone.”‘
After linebacker Jerry Verde recovered a fumbled pitchout by Durick in the first quarter, Kochanski kicked a 32-yard field goal.
“I wanted to go for it, but Brian gave me those big puppy-dog eyes and I said to go ahead,” Mattio said. “He makes it and I think: What a great coaching move!’ ”
After Shoemaker’s touchdown, 6-4, 265-pound Mike Bartolini blocked the extra point. That allowed Kochanski’s 28-yarder in the third quarter to tie it.
Led by linebackers Mark Clifford and Verde, the Spartan defense played like so many Horatios at the bridge. It was only fitting that a defensive player finally gave Marian Catholic a state championship.