Providence defensive lineman Luis Vasquez looked at the scoreboard Saturday and thought one thing: masterpiece.
The 6-foot-2, 190 senior accounted for his team’s first eight points and set the table for a dominant defensive performance as the Celtics, playing without Notre Dame-bound receiver Miles Boykin, wore down Wheaton Warrenville South 23-6 in a Class 7A quarterfinal in New Lenox.
The Celtics (11-1) will face Catholic League Blue foe Mount Carmel next week in a semifinal. Providence beat the Caravan 33-14 in mid-September.
The Celtics had six sacks and three interceptions but set the tone on the game’s first play, knocking South running back Jonathan Johnson out of the game after a 7-yard gain. Three series later, Vasquez tackled Tigers running back Jevon McCorkle in the end zone for a safety and a 2-0 lead.
Neither team scored again until Vasquez stepped in front of a pass from South backup quarterback Michael Stebbins and returned it 13 yards for a touchdown late in the third.
“I was just doing my job. Honestly, I couldn’t believe it, it was so unreal,” Vasquez said of the interception. “I didn’t think anything of it. It wasn’t a big deal. Well, I guess it was kind of a big deal.”
The Tigers (7-5), who had won six straight, pulled within 9-6 early in the fourth on Stebbins’ 81-yard touchdown pass to Keishawn Watson.
But Providence rattled off the next 14 points, with Mike Markasovic scoring from 48 yards and Richie Warfield adding a 21-yarder in the game’s final two minutes.
“This script could have been ripped up after the first play when my running back goes out. At that point we are absolutely scrambling,” South coach Ron Muhitch said. “That first play completely changed the game plan. And in a game like this, one or two plays are going to make the game bounce your way, and they came up with those plays.”
Player of the game: Luis Vasquez, Providence, safety, 13-yard INT return for TD, 2 sacks.
Key performers: Providence — Richie Warfield, 16 carries, 92 yards, TD; Justin Hunniford, 17-for-32, 157 yards. Wheaton Warrenville South — Josh Prueter, 21 carries, 63 yards; 8-for-16, 66 yards; Keishawn Watson, 5 catches, 114 yards, TD.