| The 2004 Season |
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Mike Menozzi JolietCatholicFootball.com
Entering the 2004 season, Joliet Catholic’s football team was on a roll. Four state championships in the last 5 years, and an incoming junior class that hadn’t lost a game at the previous two levels, and as identified in the 2004 Preview returning starters at the skill positions would not be a problem for the 2004 squad. The lines, on both sides of the ball however, would be utilizing some of that incoming junior class.
The 2004 Schedule was in the same order as the 2003 schedule, but home field was switched. This resulted in home games against St. Pat’s, Marist, Marian Catholic, and Carmel.
Catholic traveled to Nazareth the first week of the season for an opportunity for everyone to see what they had. As it turns out, the Hilltoppers had quite a bit and seemed ready for the season to begin. Catholic walked away with a 55-0 road win.
Another road game in week two saw the Hillmen travel to St. Viator. The Lions put up quite a fight in route to a 34-16 JCA win. Detractors were alarmed St. Viator scored on them I guess, and wonder aloud if this team had what it took. No one knew then that Viator would be a playoff qualifier, and upset defending 6A champ Carmel.
The detractors would find out soon enough, as the Hilltoppers made their first statement win in week 3. St. Patrick’s was favored in the ESCC as a top 3 finisher and entered the game undefeated, giving up only a single touchdown. Catholic scored early and ran away 45-14. Catholic used the quick strike play potential to turn what was expected to be a close game into a rout.
Marist at home was the week 4 opponent, after a couple near misses Marist needed a win to stay in the hunt for the playoffs, but they didn’t have it, losing 42-0, and missed the playoffs at season’s end.
A road game to Benet on what was the best day weather-wise of the entire season. Catholic would need to de-rail Benet’s QB LeFevour on their homecoming weekend. After an exchange of scores in the first half, the Hillmen wore Benet out and won 48-14. Adjustments at halftime turned a close game into another rout, the key was a pressing aggressive defense in the second half.
Our own Homecoming weekend was up next, against old Illini-8 foe Marian Catholic. Marian was a wild card in the conference, they had a huge line and the weather conditions played to their favor in a muddy mess under the lights. It may have been Marian, maybe the field conditions, maybe the Homecoming distractions, but the Hillmen survived their closest game of the year, winning 21-14.
The detractors were once again out in force following the Marian Catholic game. JCA had survived a close one, and the nay-sayers were predicting a loss. Week 7 was a road game to Notre Dame. A hard hitting contest saw JCA win 28-7, in what some saw as payback for the Notre Dame win over JCA in the baseball championship game.
A trip to St. Joe’s was up next in what would be preparation for the final regular season game against Carmel. On a very windy day, the Hillmen stayed on the ground and chewed up St. Joe’s 43-0 with the starters resting most of the way.
The final regular season game was a rematch with Carmel. The only team to blemish the 2003 team’s state championship season, the Hillmen were looking for a little payback. The defending 6A champs were held to 1 first down in the first half, while JCA ran off 500+ yards. It wasn’t as close as the score might suggest it was. The Hillmen had their payback 55-21, dominated the defending 6A champs, and were ready for the playoffs to begin.
The playoff seeding was out and there were more than a few surprises. Springfield Griffin, whom everyone thought JCA would face in the title game again, was on the same side of the bracket at JCA. Morris, the number 1 seed in 6A had dropped down to 5A and was inexplicably denied a number 1 seed were on the opposite bracket, resulting in a title game match-up if they both made it that far.
Playoff foe Riverside Brookfield would be an opponent in round two, fanning the flames of the public and private debate.
Crane Chicago was the first opponent in round 1. Crane arrived late and didn’t stay long as the Hillmen dispatched them 76-0 in a lopsided game.
Round two had Riverside Brookfieldtraveling to JCA. RB head coach Otto Zeeman had been very outspoken against the private schools for years, with an enrollment multiplier looming, this may be the final match-up between JCA and RB. The Hilltoppers were not going to let RB escape the final match-up without a good pounding. If this was going to be their final match-up, RB would have one to remember for a long time. Catholic destroyed the Bulldog’s “five wide” offense 69-6.
The Quarterfinals brought in Chicago Catholic League foe Fenwick. The Friars hadn’t won by large margins, but were undefeated largely due to the stifling defense they had. In a hard fought game Catholic won 35-0.
The Semi-Finals resulted in a trip to Jacksonville. The upstart Crimsons had pulled off back to back upsets over Springfield Griffin and Bellville Althoff the two weeks prior, and were making their first trip to the Semi Finals. The Hilltoppers were ready. Like a seasoned veteran, the Hillmen shook off the long bus ride, screaming home town fans, and dispatched with the Crimsons 42-13.
With the offense scoring more points than any Hilltopper team in school history, it was easy to overlook the improving defense. Starting with a fast, hard hitting group, the Hillmen continued to improve each week, culminating in an impressive showing in the title game. Many claimed to see this one coming. Morris had, by their own admission, the best team they had ever put on the field in school history. They were big, fast, and were outscoring opponents by large margins all season. Catholic drew game two on day two of the playoffs, and the weather was not favorable for either side. A steady wind blew the all-day rain near horizontal throughout the game. The Hilltopper defense contained the Redskins with run blitzing, taking away every running lane. The weather, hard hitting, and dogged pursuit, eliminated the Redskin passing game. Catholic had won title number 12. The final was 17-0.
Joliet Catholic continued it’s run of state football records in 2004. A record fourteenth trip to the title game, and another record twelfth state title. A fifth state title in the last six years. Compiling an impressive 77-5 record in six years. Coach Sharp tied Coach Gordie Gillespie with 5 titles as head coach at Joliet Catholic. As a team, the Hillmen have been in more playoff games (99), and won more playoff games (83) than any other school. For the first time in the school’s history, all three running back exceeded 1,000 yards rushing in a season.
For all the season’s statistics, follow this2004 Statistics link
In a tribute to the coaching success at JCA, there is tremendous pride knowing all three football programs at Joliet Catholic (Varsity Roster, Sophomore Roster, Freshman Roster) were undefeated in 2004. Each were outright conference winners.
While many key players are graduating from the 2004 team, the future at Joliet Catholic remains very bright. To the dismay of many opponents in 2005, the Hillmen return 10 starters (5 on offense, and 5 on defense) from the 2004 team in 2005. The seniors, meanwhile, look to remain undefeated as a class throughout their four year tenure at JCA.
The past is the source of great pride for all Hilltoppers.
The future is as bright as it has ever been.
Best of luck to the outgoing seniors - through hard work, dedication, and execution you’ve made everyone proud, and established your position in the Hilltopper record books as Champions in 2004.
Hillmen . . . Champions for Life!
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