Turbulent Week For Fenwick Ends With A Loss

A turbulent week for the Fenwick football program ended in heartbreak Saturday night.

After putting itself in position to tie the game upon scoring a dramatic touchdown with less than two minutes remaining, Fenwick’s excitement was quickly doused by disappointment when its extra-point kick was blocked. Bishop McNamara went on to beat the Friars 21-13 in a Chicago Catholic League White Division opener at Morton West High School in Berwyn.

“It’s kind of devastating,” newly-installed Fenwick coach Scott Thies said about seeing the chance to tie the game blocked. “That’s part of football.”

Thies, who's in his first year as the school’s athletic director, replaced former head coach Joe DiCanio, who was following a 42-0 loss to St. Rita in which he and defensive coordinator Mike Mahoney had an altercation.

Mahoney was relieved of his volunteer coaching duties by the school, while running backs and special teams coach Andy Miller resigned after that, according to Wednesday Journal.

“It was rough,” Fenwick senior captain Jack Stibich said of the week. “There was a lot of change going on. We just got to stay positive and do what we can. Don’t worry about everybody else. Worry about what we can do and just do our jobs and stay focused.”

“It was certainly a unique situation,” Thies said. “I love our kids, I love this place and football is football. I grew up playing football and I coached it here for eight years. Our kids know what they’re doing. We just have to get our confidence back as football players and figure out what our identity is, and once we do that we’ll be okay.”

After a scoreless first half, McNamara (3-1, 1-0) scored on its first possession of the second half.  Channing Dolliger connected with Ryan Lambert for a 44-yard touchdown pass. Matt Powell’s kick made it 7-0 at 8:36 of the third quarter.

Fenwick (1-3, 0-1) broke its scoring drought when Stibich ran for a 10-yard touchdown around the left end with 8:28 left in the game. It was the first time the Friars scored in three games. Zach Laszkiewicz’s extra-point tied the game.

McNamara moved in front 14-7 when Dolliger intercepted a pass and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown with 5:45 left.

Fenwick had more fight in it, though. On a fourth-and-12 situation at McNamara’s 34, Pat Hart threw a pass to John O’Malley over the middle. O’Malley caught it, broke loose from his defender and then juked out another defensive player en route to the end zone. That brought the Friars within 14-13 with 1:50 left.

However, McNamara’s Brock Gabel got a piece of Laskiewicz’s extra-point kick and the ball lined wide left.

“We lined up everyone on the right side and had someone (Gabel) coming through and he got through and blocked it right away,” Dolliger said. “It felt great. That was exactly what we wanted to do.”

After using its final timeout, Fenwick purposely allowed McNamara’s Jared Marcotte to run for a 20-yard touchdown. Powell’s kick gave the Fightin’ Irish its 21-13 lead with 1:30 left.

The smart strategy became irrelevant when Fenwick fumbled away the ensuing kickoff. McNamara's Robbie Odeneal recovered the ball on the Friars’ 21 to seal the outcome.

“It hurts, but we just got to keep moving forward,” Stibich said after gaining 95 yards on 20 carries. “The same time last year we were 1-3, made the playoffs and won the Prep Bowl. We just got to keep moving forward. We can’t think about this.”

Thies will continue as coach and the school’s athletic director for the rest of the season. After that, his positions will be re-examined. 

“I’m going to do what’s best for Fenwick,” he said. “Anything’s a possibility at this point.”