Joliet Catholic isn’t used to being in the position it was entering Friday night.

Second all-time for football state championships in Illinois history, the Hilltoppers are used to dominating, competing and being on top. Yet entering Friday night’s road contest at Marist, they found themselves searching for win number one on the season.

The schedule was tough, no doubt. The losses came against Lyons, Glenbard West and Fenwick and the Hilltoppers held leads in two of them. The offense was churning, scoring 67 points in those three games, but the defense was coming off a game in which it allowed 43 to Fenwick. There had been injuries and youth galore.

All that is to say, the Hilltoppers needed a big win. That’s exactly what they got Friday night, winning on the final play of the game aga

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