CHICAGO HEIGHTS | A week after it looked like the Marian Catholic offense had found itself, the No. 8-seeded Spartans found themselves in the hole most the night Friday in a 34-14 loss to No. 4 St. Rita in the second round of the Class 7A playoffs.

Marian struggled offensively in its last three regular-season games, but scored 49 in a first-round playoff win over No.1 seed Bogan. The Spartans could not get anything going until it was too late against a bigger, more physical St. Rita team and hurt itself with penalties.

"Coach (Dave Mattio) told us before the game we have to get at least a few yards on first down, and we ended up starting with a few penalties and it hurt us," quarterback John Rhode said. "We can't afford to start first-and-15. It was tough to come back when you do that.

"We kind of got into St. Rita's game and that hurt."

The Spartans did not score until Joe Walker's 19-yard run with eight minutes left in the game. By then, the Mustangs led 31-7. Jeruel Taylor scored on an 8-yard run for Marian's other score.

"I think mentally, maybe we just couldn't focus," Taylor said. "I think physically, we were there, especially in the beginning."

Marian (7-4) got a break on the opening drive when St. Rita (8-2) roughed punter Joe Hess, giving the Spartans a first down at midfield. Three plays later, the Mustangs' Charles Elmore intercepted Rhode at the St. Rita 26 and returned it 14 yards. That set up a 60-yard, 11-play scoring drive as Kyle Jachim scored the first of his three touchdowns on an 8-yard run.

"I think maybe if we could have scored there, we might have changed things a little," Mattio said. "We just didn't put ourselves in good position, starting first-and-15 and we get 6 or 7 yards, but it is second-and-8. We are not a team that can start like that and make up that yardage."

Marian had seven penalties for 50 yards, while St. Rita, which will play Wheaton-Warrenville South in the quarterfinals, had nine for 65. The Mustangs' star back Jahwon Akui pulled up with a tight right hamstring in the second quarter and missed the rest of the game. He was on his way to breaking loose for a score when he fell at midfield. Travis Starks filled in and rushed for 148 yards and a touchdown.

"They're a good team and very physical up front," Marian linebacker Nolan Berens said. "We made some plays to stop them, but they came up with the big plays."

PREP FOOTBALL

Class 7A Playoffs

Second Round

No. 4 St. Rita 34, No. 8 Marian Catholic 14

Kyle Jachim scored three of the Mustangs' four touchdowns.

More inside

Ken Karrson and Mike Nieto provide commentary on Mt. Carmel's win and Marian Catholic's loss. PAGE C3