Benet stymies Joliet Catholic
By Tina Akouris takouris@suntimes.com October 20, 2012 1:34AM
Benet quarterback Jack Beneventi threw for four touchdowns against Joliet Catholic last Friday. | Ray Luna ~ For Sun-Times Media
Player of the Game
Benet quarterback Jack Beneventi was 26-of-33 for 365 yards and four touchdowns in the Redwings’ 31-21 victory over Joliet Catholic.
Article Extras
Updated: November 22, 2012 6:36AM
Benet quarterback Jack Beneventi threw for four touchdowns and more than 300 yards as the visiting Redwings beat Joliet Catholic 31-21 in an East Suburban Catholic contest Friday night at Memorial Stadium.
Beneventi was 26-for-33 passing for 365 yards and four touchdowns of 5, 20, 40 and three yards. He was intercepted twice.
Joliet Catholic’s USC-bound running back Ty Isaac sat out with a groin injury, but the Hilltoppers relied on running backs Tyler Reitz (19 carries, 101 yards, TD) and Michael Ivlow (12 carries, 80 yards, 2 TDs).
The Hilltoppers (5-4, 4-3) took a 21-14 lead with 27.4 seconds to play in the first half on Reitz’s 3-yard run. Benet quarterback Jack Beneventi responded with 1:36 to play in the third quarter with a 40-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jack Euritt to tie the score at 21.
Perhaps the game changing play was a fumble. With eight minutes left and the Hilltoppers in control at the Benet 5-yard line, Reitz plowed through the Redwings defensive line but lost the ball in the end zone.
That turned it over to Benet, which put together a scoring drive that ended with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Beneventi to Jack Crain with three minutes to play for 28-21 lead. Benet upped the lead to 31-21 on John Duvic’s 26-yard field goal.
“We didn’t put up a point that entire second half,” Reitz said. “I was trying to give a little extra and trying to do it all myself and I had a first down and I should have just gone down. I just kept trying to go with it.”
Even with the loss, Joliet Catholic clinched a postseason berth based on playoff points.
Ivlow scored two touchdowns in the first quarter on runs of 5 and 20 yards to put the Hilltoppers ahead 14-0. Benet countered in the second quarter with two touchdown passes from Beneventi to Euritt on throws of 5 and 20 yards.
Beneventi threw two interceptions in the first half, both picks by Joliet Catholic’s Zack Jackovich. Beneventi’s second pick was at the 1:59 mark of the second quarter, and went right into a waiting Jackovich in the end zone from 20 yards out.
Benet (8-1, 5-1) earned a share of the conference title with Marist. Both teams finished with 5-1 conference records. Marist defeated Withrow, of Cincinnati, 27-12 on Friday night in Ohio.
