Marist’s John McAuliffe didn’t exactly know where he was going or what he was doing.
But the senior running back borrowed a sentiment from an old REO Speedwagon song and decided to “keep pushin’ on.”
“It was just keep pushing, keep pushing, keep pushing,” McAuliffe said. “I kept my feet moving and kept pushing. And the offensive line kept pushing.”
All of that resulted in the winning touchdown Friday night for the visiting RedHawks in a 34-27 overtime victory over neighborhood rival Brother Rice in a CCL/ESCC crossover game in Chicago.
On a fourth-and-goal from the 1, the Cornell-bound McAuliffe took the handoff and went right into a scrum. The next thing you know, he was in the end zone and Marist (2-0) had the lead.
“I went in backward, and I didn’t know what direction I was heading,” McAuliffe said of the play. “Then I was in the end zone and I opened my eyes.”
Senior quarterback Jacob Ritter had his eyes on McAuliffe the whole time for Marist.
“I thought he was stopped,” Ritter said of McAuliffe. “I saw him make a little spin move, and then he was in.
“I love him to death — he’s a dog.”
Brother Rice (1-1) had the chance to tie in OT, but Marist’s defense stopped the Crusaders on a run at the 2-yard line.
Ritter threw for 184 yards and two TDs and ran for 92 yards and a TD. Gavin O’Brochta had seven catches for 115 yards and two TDs. McAuliffe added 36 yards on 12 carries and two TDs.
Junior quarterback CJ Gray threw for 167 yards to lead Brother Rice. Tyler Lofton ran for 68 yards and three TDs.
It was rough going for McAuliffe most of the night, and that final TD wasn’t too easy either. But the Orland Park resident came through with the big play when needed.
“He’s just a fighter,” Marist coach Mike Fitzgerald said of McAuliffe. “He keeps fighting to the end. He’s a fighter when he doesn’t have the ball and is blocking.
“He went up against a stout defense, and he still found a way to get it done.”
The RedHawks also found a way to get things done during regulation.
Down 27-20 with 1:44 left in the fourth quarter, Marist followed up a Brother Rice score as Ritter engineered a six-play drive. He found O’Brochta open three straight times, capping it off with a a 29-yard TD connection.
“You have to trust your QB at that point,” McAuliffe said. “You need the quarterback to do the right things — be accurate and not turn the ball over. We have full trust in him. He did what he does.”
McAuliffe came to Marist and played quarterback for two years. He was moved to wide receiver last year, but early in the season, he made another switch to running back.
“In Week 4 of last year, we tried it out,” McAuliffe said. “We had a great game, and I just kept playing there. It’s the best position in football.”
Cornell is looking at McAuliffe as a running back. He said Cornell’s coaches came to Marist and talked with him. After a visit, he was sold on the Ivy League school and made his commitment.
Winning a huge rivalry game also made McAuliffe happy.
“It means so much,” he said. “We have new coaches. We have bragging rights. It’s just one of the best feelings I’ve ever had.”
And he’s glad to be a part of Marist’s program after a thrilling win like this.
“I love the energy,” he said. “You can’t beat this. This whole school is a family, and everyone backs the football team.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
