CN100 Game of the Week preview: Football - Providence Catholic vs. Brother Rice

Week 6: Providence Catholic Celtics vs. Brother Rice Crusaders

NEW LENOX – Providence erased the sting of a 20-point loss to Loyola in the Chicago Catholic Blue with a 14-0 shutout of St. Rita last week.

The Celtics are hoping to carry that momentum into Friday’s showdown with Brother Rice, which is coming off a 56-7 drubbing at the hands of Mt. Carmel.

In the CCL Blue every game is a big one, and this is no exception. Providence comes in at 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the CCL Blue, while Brother Rice enters with a 3-2, 1-1 line. The game will be shown on CN100, The Comcast Network, at Noon and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, and 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 1. You can also watch the game throughout Chicagoland with Xfinity On Demand.

“We are happy to be at 4-1, although we would prefer to be 5-0,” Providence coach Mark Coglianese jokes. “St. Rita was a big win and we need to build on that and not have a letdown. Getting a win at Rice would be huge with us, with Mt. Carmel the final CCL Blue opponent still to come for us.”

The Celtics have made the playoffs in five of Coglianese’s six seasons at the helm. This year’s edition seems poised to make some postseason noise yet again. The offense is balance behind quarterback Dominic Lagone, a former running back, tailback Brandon Price and tailback/receiver Chad Weaver.

Lagone has thrown for 512 yards and five scores while rushing for 195 yards and three more scores. Price is the primary ball carrier, rushing for 370 yards and six touchdowns while battling an ankle injury. Weaver, who is normally a receiver, filled in admirably for Price and has emerged as a threat all over the field. He has rushed for 350 yards and three touchdowns, while also leading the team in receiving with 17 catches for 171 yards and a TD. Sophomore Miles Boykin has made an impact with five catches for 118 yards and three TDs.

“Chad is definitely a playmaker and you will see him all over the field,” Coglianese said. “When those three aren’t making plays, Dominic steps up and makes a play, either throwing or running it himself.”

Defensively, the Celtics have been strong, but they’ve not seen anything like what Brother Rice is about to throw at them. The Crusaders have run their spread offense effectively this season, and quarterback Matt Page is putting up huge numbers.

He has already thrown for 1,413 yards and 13 touchdowns to go with only three interceptions. He's also rushed for 258 yards and three scores. Three receivers have done most of the damage for Rice. Malik Moody (19 catches, 279 yards, two TDs), Luke Mueller (33 catches, 346 yards, 4 TDs) and Chris Rozell (26 catches, 388 yards, 3 TDs) have put up monster numbers in this scheme. Running back Marcus Jones has kept defenses honest with 371 yards and three scores.

“We have not seen a passing attack like theirs,” Coglianese said. “It will be a huge challenge for us. They have explosive receivers and a quarterback that sees the field well and has a great arm.”

Brother Rice is hoping to erase the sting of losing by seven touchdowns to the Caravan last week.

“It’s going to be a tough test,” first-year coach Brian Badke said. “Providence is big and physical and they are playing really well right now. We are going to have to play our best to compete with them. It’s going to be a tough game and we are looking forward to bouncing back this week after a tough loss.”

Be sure to tune in to see Edgy Tim’s “Keys to the Game.” Get more Edgy at edgytim.com

- Paul Johnson, CN100 Correspondent

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