Marist Football's State Title Bid Falls Short

More than a half-century after the school was founded, Marist is still seeking its first state football championship. But this year sure was a lot of fun.

The RedHawks’ Cinderella run to the state title game came up one step short of the ultimate goal as they were defeated by the Loyola Academy Ramblers 41-0 Saturday night in the IHSA Class 8A state championship game.

After holding the Ramblers to a single touchdown in the first quarter, things got out of hand in the second for Marist, who gave up two touchdown runs to Loyola’s Dara Laja (9 and 6 yards) and a 9-yard strike from Emmett Clifford to Jonah Isaac.

Already up 27-0 at halftime, Loyola added two third quarter scores from Jake Marwede.

The RedHawks were out-gained on the ground 208-2, and couldn’t convert on both their red zone scoring opportunities.

This was Marist’s third appearance in the IHSA state title game, having previously lost in 1986 and 2009. The team was 5-4 in the regular season, but got hot in the postseason, winning their first three games by three points apiece and then topped Waubonsie Valley from Aurora in last week’s semifinal.

For Loyola, their state championship was a long time coming. The Ramblers hadn’t won it all since 1993, and has lost in their state title game bids in 2011 and 2013.

Despite the loss, Marist faithful are proud of their boys on the gridiron. For they brought honor and glory and fame.