RIVALS
A Look Back at Montini v JCA
This is the first installment in a series of 5 photo essays that explores a 5 year span of Montini Catholic High School Football. Below are links to the entire series:
Part I — RIVALS
Part II — WOODSTOCK
Part III — ORANGE SKY
Part IV — PROGRAMMED TO WIN
Part V — NOVEMBER REIGN
What crosses your mind when you think of the word RIVALRY? Pro Sports? College Sports? High School Sports? Sibling?
For me, growing up in the Chicagoland area I have a plethora of professional sports match-ups to reference: Bears v Packers — Bulls v Pistons — Cubs v White Sox — Blackhawks v Red Wings.
As my football career went collegiate, I had the special privilege to be a part of a unique American rivalry. A rivalry & tradition that is UNLIKE any other: as a member of Army football, I have been an active part of seven Army — Navy games (4 as a player, 1 as a graduate asst. coach, 2 as a photographer).
After we won the game in 2001 our locker room was visited by President George W. Bush and General Norman Schwarzkopf (most of the guys waited in a long line to meet and shake hands with G-dubs but I made a b-line for Stormin’ Norman. I learned earlier that year that he was a practicing amateur magician and I wanted to meet him…notice my G n’ R Appetite for Destruction t-shirt). In December of 2013 in Philadelphia, I took in the game as a fan. However, I was able to introduce my daughter to the Army — Navy rivalry and she accepted her membership with conviction and enthusiasm.
Army — Navy is not alone here: Alabama v Auburn — South Carolina v Clemson — USC v Notre Dame, to name a few. Some rivalries have a different, deeper, more personal meaning, and it is this kind of college football match-up that comes to mind.
Q: What fuels rivalries? General disdain, geography, physical confrontations?
A: Yes, yes and yes.
But, then there is the ‘High School Rivalry’. It’s the most centralized. It’s not national, regional or state-driven; its locally driven. A town split by school disticts, North vs South — East vs West or split by income or beliefs, Public vs Private — Christian vs Catholic — Blue Collar vs White Collar. I remember growing up and hating Driscoll Catholic High School. Legend has it that back in the mid-80's, a fight broke out during a football game. Players, parents, coaches…all involved.
From that point forward, the games against Driscoll, all the games, in all the sports, began to mean something else — something more. Brothers & sisters passed the fury down to younger siblings; fathers & mothers passed it down to sons and daughter. But that particular rivalry was put to bed almost 7 years ago. Driscoll Catholic, Montini’s brother school, closed its doors in 2008 (their football program had won 7 consecutive State Championships.). The schools were part of the Christian Brother schools and had the unique characteristic of having nearly IDENTICAL floor plans. That added an eeriness to playing/seeing games there. So, Montini Catholic lost its rival. Others filled the void, admirably…but it hasn’t been the same.
Today, for better or worse, we don’t have the same sort of rivalries. Generally speaking, sportsmanship has become an important point of emphasis for High School sports. The kind of things that would ignite a rivalry are generally squashed before they materialize. Things like taunting an opposing team or player, inter-school hazing, spirit missions to steal another team’s mascot and general ballyhoo are discouraged. Because of this hyper-sensitivity the arch-nemisis/villain/common enemy aren’t quite the same. Add to that the rise of club athletics & socail media which allows kids in high school to become friends, sometimes close friends with their opponents…imagine that! Rivalries can take decades and decades and mounds of tradition to materialize.
But sometimes rivalries grow right before our eyes, within a matter of a few years or a few games and that bonding mechanism which was once fueled by hate, becomes fueled by the very essence of sport — COMPETITION.
…the Montini — JCA rivalry has turned into CAN’T MISS THEATER
That is the case with Montini Catholic High School & Joliet Catholic Academy. This isn’t a rivalry that is as old as the Catholic Church, or a rivalry that runs as deep as the school’s collective histories. It’s a relatively new match-up — it began just a short 6 years ago, in 2009. Before that, the schools had only met twice (1–1) in the 1960's — in fact, most of the Montini coaching staff was made up of JCA grads and former coaches (THANKS JIM IZZO), but other than that they had been able to avoid each other on the football field.
Now, I understand that hyperbole can run rampant in sports. With metaphors involving war and brotherhood and eternal classification of the ‘greatest ever’, you can become numb to the actual entertainment value that sports often provide. I’ve been around football for several years. Hardly have I see it all. But the Montini — JCA rivalry has turned into CAN’T MISS THEATER. There has been unfailing and consistent drama, strange occurrences, record-breaking feats…and lets not forget those ‘instant-classic’ come-from-behind victories…which seem to have become the norm.
So, if you’ll join me, let’s take a scroll down memory lane (get it…get it, scroll…I used scroll instead of stroll, because it’s a computer):
2009
They’re Goin for the Win!
IHSA 5A Playoffs State Championship | Memorial Stadium — Champaign, IL
Montini Catholic— 29
Joliet Catholic — 28
This was the beginning of Montini’s run. And since that beginning, it has been the end of JCA’s strangelhold on IHSA football state championships. This was the typical instance of BIG brother vs LITTLE brother, David vs Goliath. 13 State Titles v 1 State Title, the Option vs the Spread, The Hilltoppers vs The Broncos.
Most of the press surrounding the game echoed that sentiment. There was a lot of ‘respect’ for head coach Chris Andriano and the Broncos playoff push, but the pundits and experts expected Joliet Catholic to ROLL the Broncos.
This was a fair assessment of Montini’s team. The regular season netted a 5–4 record. They squeaked into the 5A IHSA playoffs as a 12-seed. The Hillmen of Joliet Catholic were the perennial powerhouse. However, what wasn’t taken into consideration during those expert evaulations was the momentum that Montini had built. The regular season was soured by underachievement. But after a few big playoff wins and a head coach with ‘the nerve’ to go FOR-THE-WIN, the Broncos were clicking on each and every cylinder and primed for an upset.
Montini scored a late 4th quarter TD capping an incredible drive to bring the score to 27–28. Instead of opting to knot the game at 28, head coach Chris Andriano called a time-out and pulled his field goal/extra-point unit off the field. Senior QB Brandon Pechloff found senior WR Christain Westerkamp on a whip route for the 2-pt conversion and the Broncos had the lead with :32 seconds. A squib kick and 2 incompletions secured the second state title in school history as the Broncos won 29–28 against Joliet Catholic.
The feeling was electric.
Below is a highlight clip that includes the final drive in the waining seconds of the 2009 IHSA 5A State Championship:
2010
One Trick Pony?
Week 1 of the Regular Season | Joliet Memorial Stadium — Joliet, IL
Montini Catholic— 7
Joliet Catholic — 21
Getting to the top is one thing, staying there is something else entirely.
The teams didn’t meet in the playoffs in 2010, but the JCA won 21–7 in a Week 1 match-up.
After meeting just two times prior to the 2009 State Championship, the two teams met THE VERY NEXT GAME. Now, yes, the games were separated by the off-season but after the way the 2009 State Championship ended, that is a hell of a way to kick-off a season.
Joilet Catholic exacted its revenge. A home game, under their lights, on their field, with their crowd and their W.
An injury to the Broncos starting QB, Matt Westerkamp, stymied the Broncos offense and the Broncos fell by the score of 21–7.
But that loss only fueled the Montini Catholic spirit, as they went on to repeat as State Champions.
This video is more or less only about the student sections, but does lend a bit of context to the game and what it meant to the schools at the time.
2011
The Football Game that Turned into a Track Meet
IHSA 5A Playoffs State Championship | Memorial Stadium — Champaign, IL
Montini Catholic — 70
Joliet Catholic — 45
In one of the more memorable games in Illinois high school football history, Montini beat Joliet Catholic 70–45 in the Class 5A state championship game — securing their third straight IHSA 5A title. After meeting in BACK to BACK games (to end the 2009 season & start the 2010 season), Montini and JCA didn’t match-up again until the end of the 2011 season — again in the IHSA 5A state championship.
This was one of the fastest and most incredible football game I have ever witnessed. The final score reflects something of a blow-out. But the blow-out part of the game happened within a matter of minutes in the 4th quarter.
The game was up-and-down the field. Score after score after score. Both teams gaining the lead and subsequently surrendering the lead. And it wasn’t until halftime that you took a breath, looked up at the score board and said, wow…thats a helluva lotta points. And as an observer trying to keep up on the sidelines…I’m exhausted.
The team & individual performances of this game are well documented. Something like 18 or 19 Illinois High School records fell in the game. I would like to suggest that the number should reach 20 records broken as I wonder if the game holds the record for ‘game that broke the most records’
I added the picture below just to show that there was, in fact, at least one tackle made in this game. But all kidding aside, Montini’s defense forced 3 interceptions and caused (and recovered) 2 fumbles.
The video below is the entire game. If you’ve never seen it. It’s quite entertaining:
Key Stats (Video Game Numbers) below:
2012
Not in Our House…
Yes, in Your House
IHSA 5A Playoffs Semifinals | Joliet Memorial Stadium — Joliet, IL
Montini Catholic — 40
Joliet Catholic — 37
In 2012, Montini handed the Hilltoppers a 40–37 defeat in a Class 5A semifinal. This was the real gut punch. As if surrendering 70 points in the 2011 State Championship wasn’t enough, losing on your home field in the 2012 IHSA 5A semifinals can really chap-yer-ass.
JCA was something like 7–0 in semifinal games at home, prior to 2012. The score was 31–14 midway through the 3rd quarter. The Broncos scored on a long run by Dmitri Taylor, to pull within striking distance(first picture of this section) and then a TD run by Joey Borsellino to gain the lead with about :55 seconds to go. The TD run by Borsellino was, eventually, in lieu of a FG attempt that would have tied the game and sent the Broncos and Hilltoppers to OT. But in typical Bronco — fashion, head coach Chris Andriano went for the win.
And just like that the Broncos were off to Champaign, yet again. #4PEAT
The video below is the complete game:
2013
In Our House, Too
IHSA 5A Playoffs Quarterfinals | Duffy Memorial Stadium — Lombard, IL
Joliet Catholic — 21
Montini Catholic — 22
Montini defeated Joliet Catholic 22–21 in the quarterfinals of the 2013 Class 5A playoffs. It was the first time the teams had met in Lombard and the JCA fans showed-up early.
This was another intense match-up. At this point, the cumulative frustration of JCA’s loses and the unflailing confidence of Montini’s victories created a tension that seemed poised to tip in favor of Joliet Catholic.
The game was back and forth and comparably low scoring. JCA took a late lead in the 4th quarter and dealt the Broncos a few key injuries at the WR position. But, as this story has gone in the past, Montini found a way to secure yet another last-minute victory.
With the score 21–14, Junior WR Stephen Dennis hauled in a miraculous TD reception (above) to bring the Broncos within 1 at 21–20. And like clock-work, head coach Chris Andriano opted to go FOR-THE-WIN.
The Broncos lined up in their BAZOOKA package, handed the ball to LB/RB Nile Sykes who plowed through the JCA defense for yet another 2pt conversion — sealing a victory for Montini and crushing the spirits of Joliet Catholic, again (below).
The video below is a highlight clip of the Broncos 22–21 victory in 2013.
2014
Year of the Horse, Again?
IHSA 5A Playoffs Round 2 | Joliet Memorial Stadium — Joliet, IL | Sat Nov 8 1PM
So to wrap it all up…this has been quite a series. Quite remarkable for Montini and quite frustrating for JCA.
The series tally sits at 4–1 in favor of Montini (with JCA’s only win in a non-playoff game).
The games have been especially tough for JCA and their fans. The Broncos have won 3 of the games in the final minutes (2 in the final minute).
Series score: 175–159 for a series difference of 16 points or just over 3 a game with two games being decided by 1 point and one game by 3 points.
***above stats and info found on EdgyTim.rivals.com message board***
I have no idea what to expect from Saturday’s game. And frankly don’t make it a point to make predictions. I look forward to yet another chapter in an intense rivalry that will maximize all 48 minutes of game clock.
GO BRONCOS!
prints are available, upon request, by way of my website:
***2014 — UPDATE***
The Prince & the ‘toppers
IHSA 5A Playoffs Round 2 | Joliet Memorial Stadium — Joliet, IL
Montini Catholic — 27
Joliet Catholic — 13
By way of the Chinese calendar, 2014 is actually the year of the Horse. But Joliet Catholic, being Catholic and all…wasn’t concerned about that…at least for the first 3 quarters — as the Broncos & Hilltoppers played an evenly matched game. Unfortunately for JCA, football is 4 quarters and it was that lob-sided 4th quarter (17–0 in favor of Montini) that allowed the Broncos from Montini Catholic to take the game by the score of 27–13 and advance in the IHSA 5A playoffs, yet again, at the expense of their gracious host to the south.
The objective was clear for the Broncos…
But it was Joliet Catholic who cracked the endzone first with a TD run by RB Michael Johnson. Montini responded with Prince Walker’s first TD run to knot the game at 7–7. Both teams added field goals and the score was tied 10–10 at the half.
Sophomore running back Prince Walker led the charge for the Broncos. He carried the ball 16 times for 122 yards, including a pair of TD runs (2 yards & 26 yards).
Walker paried his efforts with Senior WR Leon Thornton III who added 6 catches for 86 yards and a 7-yard TD run and a strong, consistent effort from PK Mason Weissenhofer who connected on field goals from 26 and 21 yards. Senior QB Chuck Norgle hit 19 out of 27 targets and picked up 183 yards through the air.
The Montini defense came up big throughout the game with 3 timely interceptions by Terrell Johnson, Alex Floeckher and Mitch West and the front 7 pinned its ears back, when it mattered most — late in the fourth — to hold the lead and close out the Hilltoppers.
We play the game for the chance to feel the joys of victory.
When the final horn sounds, there is only one victor.
If it were any other way we wouldn’t even bother to strap it up.
COME LET US CHEER FOR YOU MONTINI
WITH YOUR COLORS MAROON & GOLD
AND WE’LL CHEER JUST FOR YOU HONOR
FOR YOU’RE EVER STAUCH & BOLDAND WE’LL LEAD YOU ON TO VICTORY
AND WE’LL FIGHT UNTIL WE’RE THROUGH
SO, HERE’S TO YOU MONTINI HIGH SCHOOLWE’RE ALL FOR YOU…
RAH! RAH! RAH!
Until Next Time…
GO BRONCOS!
I am Chris Pestel, an independant freelance photographer and storyteller. I am available to tell your story and am seeking new collaborations & projects. If you are so inclined, please take a moment to check out my other essays on www.medium.com/@chrisWpestel including the series below:
A 5-part series of photo essays that explores a 5 year span of Montini Catholic High School Football. Below are links to the entire series:
Part I — RIVALS
Part II — WOODSTOCK
Part III — ORANGE SKY
Part IV — PROGRAMMED TO WIN
Part V — NOVEMBER REIGN
my website: www.chrisWpestel.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/chrisWpestel
Twitter: www.twitter.com/chrisWpestel
Please send me an email if you have any questions.
prints are available, upon request, by way of my website:
