6A football championship preview | Lally, Scoliere keep Marmion in line for state title

CLASS 6A PLAYOFFS

November 24, 2010|By Bill Harrison | Tribune Reporter

T. J. Lally has done a lot for Marmion this season.
A YouTube video of his 58-yard touchdown run against Marian Central in September received more than 7,000 views and helped the senior running back/linebacker capture the honor of National Underclassmen Combine play of the week.
But it was Lally's defensive play with lineman Nick Scoliere that kept Marmion (12-1) on track to play in Saturday's Class 6A state championship game against Rockford Boylan (13-0) in Champaign.

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In the second round of the playoffs, Cadets fans held their breaths when Thornton Fractional South went for a two-point conversion after pulling within a point with 10.9 seconds left. Enabling them to breathe again were Scoliere and Lally, who each were credited with the tackle just inches from the goal line.
"(Lally) is an old-school, tough, hard-nosed player," Marmion coach Dan Thorpe said. "He is being underestimated by a lot of colleges. He is a very humble kid."
The Cadets haven't looked back since the win against T.F. South, defeating Lemont in a quarterfinal and Danville in a semifinal for a shot at the first state title in school history. The farthest the Cadets advanced through the playoffs prior to this season was in 1989 when they lost a Class 3A semifinal to Princeton.
"We are fortunate to be here," Thorpe said. "You have to be a little lucky when you go on these runs. Recently we have been hurt by the big play, and (Boylan) has that capability with their speed."
Scoliere, who doubles as a receiver on offense, played safety the first few games but was moved to defensive end after an injury to Nate Pacer, who has returned and now rotates in at the position. Scoliere, who has seven sacks, was moved back to defensive back against Lemont, but he will return to the line in the state championship game.

6A: Marmion vs. Rockford Boylan
When: 1 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Memorial Stadium, Champaign.
TV: WPWR-Ch. 50; ESPN3.com.
Records: Marmion 12-1, Rockford Boylan 13-0.
Road to Champaign: Marmion defeated T.F. North, T.F. South, Lemont, Danville; Boylan defeated Addison Trail, Richards, Cary-Grove, Prairie Ridge.
Last meeting: First meeting.
Postseason history: Marmion (11 playoff appearances, semifinals in 3A, 1989); Boylan (26 playoff appearances, 2nd in 5A, 1975).
Marmion will win if: It can figure out how to break through a defense that has allowed just 40 total points in four playoff games.