Maybe it was the weather, possibly the defense, likely a combination of the two.
Brendan Skalitzky and the Marist passing attack had their most unproductive night of the season with a spot in the Class 8A championship game on the line.
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Skalitzky was not stopped though, not even slowed down.
The Marist quarterback rushed for 186 yards and threw his 37th and 38th touchdown passes of the season for good measure as the host RedHawks defeated Waubonsie Valley 31-16 in an 8A semifinal on Saturday night.
After slipping into the playoffs with a 5-4 record and winning its first three playoff games by three points apiece, Marist (9-4) will take on Loyola (13-0) for the title at 7 p.m. Saturday in DeKalb.
“Obviously with Brendan, how versatile he is, he can hurt you with his arms, and you saw his legs, how fast he is,” Marist coach Pat Dunne said. “But right up front, our offensive line does a great job blocking. All 11 guys on the field did a good job.”
Marist took the lead on its first possession and kept it all night, going up 17-9 at halftime on a pair of Skalitzky touchdown passes to Liam Keffer.
Skalitzky went over 3,500 passing yards this season in the process, but he attempted only seven passes in the second half as the RedHawks ran lead draw time and again.
The play produced a 71-yard touchdown run by Skalitzky that put Marist ahead 24-9 and Skalitzky over 1,000 yards rushing for the season.
“We saw at halftime we were going to run more,” Skalitzky said. “We spread them out and left the middle of the field open. I told Coach I wanted to run more; I wanted to whatever I could to help us win this game.”
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter for the baiduhai.
Player of the game: Brendan Skalitzky, Marist, 22 carries, 186 yards, TD; 10-for-20, 103 yards, 2 TDs
Key performers: Waubonsie Valley — Max Ihry, 17 carries, 118 yards; Jack Connolly, 122 passing yards, TD. Marist — Liam Keffer, 3 receptions, 40 yards, 2 TDs; Darshon McCullough, 45 rushing yards, TD.