Mustang Sally

Jefferson City Jays, I think you better slow that Mustang down.

Next up the Jays will travel to East St. Louis to play St. Rita from Chicago.

Bits about St. Rita Mustangs.

As of Thursday, the NWI Times had Portage as the #1 team in Indiana after moving up from #4 the week before.

A 1-0 start and a perch atop our rankings. Jeromy Flowers is livin' large in P-Town. If they can make it 2-0 with a trip to St. Rita on Saturday, now we're really talkin'..

Well, they’re not really talkin anymore, as St. Rita, from Chicago, IL, dropped Portage’s record to 1-1 on the season by beating them 22-0 on Friday night.

From the SouthTown Star:

It's been four long years since one of our own has hoisted a state football title trophy - St. Rita turned t he trick against Lake Zurich in 2006 - a championship drought of massive proportions when you consider the amount of talent the Southland has developed during that period.

But we've had to settle for the role of bridesmaid four times the past two years, including twice last season.

However, a region drowning in championship tradition, not to mention NFL talent, should never get accustomed to second-best.

"Hopefully this is the year someone wins one," St. Rita coach Todd Kuska said. "There's so much competition throughout the state, as well as right here on the South Side. You have to beat so many quality teams to just qualify for the playoffs. But it does prepare you for what's ahead in the playoffs."

For the second consecutive season, St. Rita grabbed the top spot in the SouthtownStar's preseason poll.

Another SouthTown Star article (08-24-2010):

Mustangs welcome challenge of being Southland's top team heading into season.

The Mustangs lost some elite talent to graduation from last season's squad, which finished 11-3.

Coach Todd Kuska, however, has St. Rita in a position to reload, not rebuild.

"We like being No. 1," said Kuska, beginning his 13th season. "We don't care about having targets on our back. What kid doesn't want to open up the newspaper and see themselves as the top team in the area? It's an honor."

Last year: 11-3

Keep an eye on: Brandon Johnson, QB; Scott Thomas, QB; Nick Dachota, OL.

Coach Todd Kuska: "We have a strong unit back on offense and defensively, we lost some big guys, but we like the kids we have stepping up. We love our senior class - it's one of the best classes we've ever had, and our junior class is solid. We just need to stay healthy and make sure we keep the fire under everybody all season."

Key to success: Quarterback. With Akui, who rushed for 1,652 yards and 27 touchdowns, and Starks in the backfield and an offensive line capable of moving buildings, the QB battle between Johnson and Thomas takes center stage. Both young men are athletic and can run. The major question is which QB can produce a passing attack when necessary.

ESPN Chicago:

Preseason

No. 3 St. Rita




Last season: 11-3 overall, 3-2 Catholic League, lost in 7A state quarterfinals, ranked No. 12 in final 2009 poll

Season ahead:Returning running backs Jahwon Akui and Travis Starks likely will get all the headlines again this season. They’ll be the ones having 100-yard – probably 200-yard -- games and scoring multiple touchdowns.

"The linemen, that’s the best," Kuska said. "It’s great to have your tailbacks back. That’s phenomenal, but it starts with the guys up front. To have five of our front six, that’s huge. Those five guys I believe are the most important on any football team across the country at any level. It’s a good sigh of relief to know we have some leaders back who can get the job done."




Akui and Starks deserve some recognition as well. They combined for nearly 3,000 yards rushing last season and scored 46 touchdowns. St. Rita also returns wide receivers Bob Gallagher and Mitch Saffold and fullback Matt Mullen. The starting quarterback will either be senior Brandon Johnson or junior Scott Thomas.





Defensively, the Mustangs don’t have as much returning and will have some huge holes to fill with the graduation of defensive lineman Bruce Gaston and linebackers Ron McNamara and Joe Campagna. Defensive lineman Joe Maes, linebacker Will McNamara and defensive backs Charles Elmore and Starks are the returning starters.

08-28-2010

Chicago Tribune Preps Plus

Jahwon Akui is the first name people usually mention when talking about St. Rita, but the Mustangs' defense had something to say for itself in the team's opener Saturday night.

The No. 3 Mustangs' defense led the way in a 22-0 victory against Portage (Ind.) at Pat Cronin Field. The longest run by either team came after an interception by St. Rita senior Jake Pikowski that helped put the game away.

 

"We're a smashmouth football team," Pikowski said. "We're a total team. We work for each other. We work for the offense and the offense works for us. We just do our jobs."




The offense wasn't as explosive as expected. Akui was held to 83 yards on 27 carries. Travis Starks added 52 yards on five carries.





"Portage is a good football team, and our defense … I'll tell you, they're pretty athletic," St. Rita coach Todd Kuska said.