Marist’s Brad Fitzgibbon has a bright future as a football player. After all, the senior defensive lineman is committed to Iowa.
But when those playing days are over, Fitzgibbon would love to return to his alma mater and patrol the sidelines for the RedHawks.
“This season has made me want to come back and be a teacher and a coach,” he said. “I think I’m fit for that. My friends tell me I’m fit for that. Whatever I do, it will all work out with God’s plan.”
Right now, Fitzgibbon is another coach on the field. He helped host Marist turn things around after a shaky start Friday night before the RedHawks pulled away in the second half for a 42-14 Class 8A first-round win over Glenbrook South in Chicago.
Cornell recruit John McAuliffe ran for 167 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries and added two catches for 45 yards to lead Marist (9-1). Jacob Ritter completed 8 of 9 passes for 121 yards and two TDs and ran for 63 yards and another TD on 14 carries.
Kevin Tomkins and Cameron Lofgren each had an interception while Josh Loera came up with a fumble recovery for the fifth-seeded RedHawks, who will host two-time defending state champion Loyola (8-2) in the second round.
Andrew Bonvechio completed 7 of 13 passes for 147 yards and two TDs for 28th-seeded Glenbrook South (5-5). The RedHawks, however, scored 35 unanswered points after trailing 14-7.
Fitzgibbon helped put the exclamation point on the turnaround when he sacked Bonvechio and forced a fumble, which Loera grabbed and returned to the Titans’ 1-yard line.
McAuliffe punched in a TD from there to make it 42-14 midway through the third quarter.
“I might have lacked a little bit in the leadership category in the first half, but I picked it up in the second half and I think that’s a testament to the kind of person and player I am,” Fitzgibbon said. “That strip sack makes me happy stats-wise and makes me happy as a person, but I think my leadership in the second half helped flip a switch in the guys.”
Tomkins sees Fitzgibbon setting the tone for his team all the time.
“Brad’s one of my best friends,” Tomkins said. “He’s a great kid and one of the best athletes I’ve ever seen. He’s a dog on and off the field and a great person.
“He’s a true leader of the team and he helps us win these games.”
Tomkins provided plenty of help as well, pulling in a huge interception at the RedHawks’ 4-yard line in the final minute of the first half to preserve a 21-14 lead.
“They’re in the red zone, that’s a huge momentum swing,” Tomkins said. “Those are things that win games. I was in the right place at the right time.
“Our DL brought the pressure on that play. They set us up for that.”
Glenbrook South scored on two long passes in the first quarter, stunning a Marist defense that had shut out its last two opponents.
Fitzgibbon said he and his teammates just needed to loosen up a bit in the second half.
“Stop thinking, start doing,” Fitzgibbon said. “Part of that was a playoff game, it’s the big stage, everyone thinks, ‘I don’t want to mess up in front of all these people in the playoffs at home.’
“I feel like everybody started having fun and the play started rolling. Two interceptions, fumble recovery, all that. I think that’s awesome.”
As for Fitzgibbon’s future, Marist coach Mike Fitzgerald could certainly see him in his shoes one day.
“He’s a tremendous young man with how much he cares about his teammates,” Fitzgerald said. “He’s a tremendous leader for us. He’s going to do some big things in college, and he’ll definitely be a great coach and make a big impact.”
