CN100 Game of the Week Football Preview: Joliet Catholic vs. Providence Catholic

Another football season has arrived, and CN100 kicks off its season of coverage in style Friday night.

A showdown between two of the winningest programs in Illinois history, the private school pillars of the southwest suburbs, Joliet Catholic and Providence, starts 13 weeks of coverage on CN100. The game will be shown at Noon and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29, and at 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 31. You can also find it anytime with Xfinity On Demand.

Providence will have a new look this season after rolling to a 13-1 record and the Class 7A state championship last year, the 10th title in the Celtics’ storied history.

Gone are receiver Myles Boykin and quarterback Justin Hunniford.

Boykin, who is now at Notre Dame, caught 65 passes for 1,035 yards and 18 touchdowns. Hunniford, who also helped lead the Celtics to a Class 4A state baseball championship in the spring before heading to NCAA Division III powerhouse North Central this fall, threw for 3,303 yards and 40 touchdowns with only three interceptions last season.

Steven Simowitz replaces Hunniford under center this year. He went 12-for-18 for 132 yards and two touchdowns (one rushing) as a backup last season. His top target in the passing game figures to be Mike Markasovic, who caught 41 passes for 574 yards and two scores last year.

The Celtics do return their leading rusher, Richie Warfield, who ran for 832 yards and 13 touchdowns, and added 32 catches for 290 yards and two touchdowns. Connor Creed (14 catches, 119 yards, three touchdowns) and newcomer Martez Malone figure to be in line for some of Boykins’ catches as well.

Joliet Catholic went 8-3 last year to extend their impressive playoff streak. The Hilltoppers have made the postseason every season since 1998 and all but one season since 1981. In fact, since the IHSA started the playoffs in 1974, Joliet Catholic has only missed the playoffs three times.

The Hilltoppers have also made state championships a regular occurrence, winning a total of 13, with the last one in 2007.

Three key returnees should help. Versatile running back Michael Johnson is the catalyst. He ran for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns in only 123 carries, placing second on the team in all three categories behind the graduated Nick Borgra

Fellow running back Harold Davis led the team with 476 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He also ran for 222 yards and three scores. Josh Parenti is a newcomer to the Hilltoppers’ triple option attack and will be relied upon to help replace some of Borgra’s production.

Quarterback Cade Earl is back after throwing for 893 yards, seven touchdowns and seven interceptions last year. While the Hilltoppers don’t pass a lot, Earl will have to familiarize himself with a new receiving corps. Jake Kinsella and Colin O’Brien get the nod Week 1.

Last season, the Celtics started their state-title push with a 21-10 win over Joliet Catholic on opening night.
- Paul Johnson, CN100 Correspondent

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