IC Catholic Prep football team posted some eye-opening statistics this season.
By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
The IC Catholic Prep football team’s run to the Class 3A state championship was an impressive one to say the least.
And the Knights have the statistics to back it up.
IC Catholic Prep went a perfect 14-0 and averaged an eye-opening 51.1 points per contest while limiting the majority of its opponents to under 10 points each game (94 points allowed in 14 games). Ten of the Knights opponents scored six or less points and eight failed to score a point, including Carlinville in the Class 3A state title game.
For context, even though the Knights played four more games than three of its foes in the Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division, the next highest point total from a MSC Blue team was 289 points (average of 28.9 points per game).
The domination for IC Catholic Prep was equally impressive from an individual statistical perspective.
The Knights averaged 291 yards rushing per game, well above the national high school average according to one national statistical service and scored 100 total touchdowns, again well above the national average.
Quarterback Luke Ricobene completed 142 of 217 passes for 2,389 yards. He threw 30 touchdowns against only nine interceptions and had a very strong quarterback rating of 124.8.
In the backfield, standout Jordan Rowell carried the ball only 178 times, but gained a whopping 2,297 yards (12.9 yards per carry or more than a first down every time he touched the ball). He scored 37 rushing touchdowns and broke the 100-yard rushing barrier in 11 games he played in. He averaged 164 yards a game on the ground and had a 99-yard long run.
Lazerick Eatman ran 80 times for 523 yards (6.5 yards per carry) and scored five touchdowns. Ricobene ran 49 times for 648 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. He averaged 13.2 yards per carry (again, more than a first down every time he ran with it). As a team, the Knights averaged just over a first down (10.4 yards per carry) every time a running play was executed.
Matt Sutton led a balanced receiving unit with 30 catches for 580 yards (19.3 per catch). He scored eight touchdowns and had a long catch of 76 yards. Rowell caught 32 passes for 543 yards and scored five receiving touchdowns. He averaged 17.0 yards per catch. Khalil Saunders caught 19 passes for 302 yards and four touchdowns (15.9 yards per catch) and Eatman had 19 catches for 253 yards (13.3 yards per catch) and five touchdowns. Seven different IC Catholic Prep receivers caught touchdown passes (Luke Calles, Khali Sanders and Brendan Russ round out that group).
IC Catholic Prep also turned the ball over only 10 times this season on offense.
Rowell finished with 2,882 all-purpose yards. Eatman had 931. Ricobene finished with 3,037 total yards of offense.
On defense, sophomore Kemon Reese led the team with 152 total tackles (3 tackles for loss). Chris Johnson, a senior, had 149 tackles and seven tackles for loss. Jimmy Kenneally had 82 tackles and led the team with 17 tackles for loss. Matt Jordan had 61 tackles and six tackles for loss. Saunders had 59 tackles and three tackles for loss. Sanders had 62 tackles and two tackles for loss. Dylan Packer had 48 tackles and six tackles for loss. Robert Vitek had 40 tackles and three tackles for loss. As a team, IC Catholic Prep had 53 tackles for loss.
The Knights also had 30 quarterback sacks. Kenneally had eight sacks for 65 yards in losses and also had 14 hurries. Jordan had six sacks for 53 yards in losses. Reese had three sacks for 23 yards in losses and Ricky Mysliwiec, a sophomore, had three sacks for 27 yards in losses.
IC Catholic Prep also had 26 interceptions and 16 fumble recoveries for a turnover ratio of plus-32 (42 on defense minus 10 turnovers on offense). Saunders led the team with four interceptions. Jordan, Sutton and Rowell each had three interceptions. Ricobene had two picks that were returned 65 yards. Sutton had 52 return yards on interceptions.
Eatman and Rowell led the team in pass deflections with seven. Saunders and Sutton each had six and Sanders had five. Saunders led the team with six fumble recoveries. Kenneally had two fumble returns for 45 yards. He also led the team with five forced fumbles. Reese had four forced fumbles. Jordan and Mysliwiec each blocked a punt.
Sam Buffo kicked 72 extra points and made three field goals. The Knight also made 26 two-point conversions with Rowell leading the way with 12. Ricobene had six.
Rowell had 42 total touchdowns, followed by Eatman with 12 and Ricobene with 11. Sutton had nine and Saunders had seven. Jordan was credited with a safety. Jordan, Saunders, Eatman and Sean Hipskind each returned an interception for a touchdown. Saunders did it twice. Eatman returned a kickoff for a touchdown.
