Introduction to the Pulaski Road Super Bowl
King Liggins and CJ Gray had one last chance to beat their biggest rival, and they didn’t waste it. Liggins helped anchor a defense that handed Marist a rare shutout loss and Gray accounted for three touchdowns as No. 6 Brother Rice cruised to a 35-0 road win over the No. 11 RedHawks on Friday.
The Game
“I can’t even explain the words,” said Liggins, a senior lineman committed to Illinois. “I’m just feeling so great just being here with my family, being here with my teammates. Man, it just feels great to get a shutout, to beat the team down the street.” The Crusaders (2-0) had lost the last three Pulaski Road Super Bowls, the past two by a touchdown each. But they scored on their first three drives and five of their first six to hand Marist its first shutout loss since 2015.
Significance of the Win
“It means a lot to the kids obviously, especially the ones that live locally,” Rice coach Casey Quedenfeld said. “No one can ignore that. But it’s just another step in the journey that these kids have kind of taken with me. This class of ’26 is my first group that came in with me. … CJ Gray, King Liggins and Jovan and Jaylin Green — they’ve all been with me and they’re always attached to me forever. … They have big plans. We take it week by week, but they have big plans.”
Key Plays
Gray scored on a two-yard sneak to cap the Crusaders’ first drive. Then Charlie Barkmeier’s interception on Marist’s fourth offensive play set up Gray’s 27-yard TD pass to Lucas Strang that made it 14-0 less than eight minutes into the game. Gray threw his second TD pass, a 17-yarder to Jovan Green Jr., early in the third quarter. The senior Army commit was 10-of-16 passing for 134 yards with no interceptions and ran 12 times for 49 yards.
Post-Game Reaction
“This is a game that we’ve been looking forward to,” Gray said. “We just came out here and handled our business.”
Brother Rice’s Jovan Green, Jr., picks up yards after catching a pass during the Crusaders’ 35-0 win over rival Marist. Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times
Defensive Performance
So did the defense, which has elite talent up front. Besides Liggins, there are four-star junior lineman Brayden Parks and five-star edge rusher Kameron McGee, who’s the state’s top-ranked sophomore and a top-10 national player in his class. “We just build off each other,” Gray said. “We see them go out and make plays, [and] it gives the offense energy. … The defense and offense really complement each other.”
Marist’s Performance
Marist (0-2), which lost to St. Rita on a touchdown in the closing seconds last week, got into the red zone just once all night. Quarterback Luke Detampel was 12-for-27 passing for 97 yards with the one interception. No RedHawk ran for more than 26 yards. “Kudos to those guys because [the RedHawks] have got a really good offensive line,” Quedenfeld said of his defensive linemen. "[Purdue commit] Rico Schrieber does a great job. Their other tackle, he does a good job. Even the guys in the middle, they do a stout job. … But our kids were up to the challenge. We pride ourselves on defense since the day I got here and that’s not going to change.”
Conclusion
The Brother Rice Crusaders’ win over Marist is a significant milestone in their season, marking their first shutout victory over their rivals since 2015. The team’s defense, led by King Liggins and CJ Gray, played a crucial role in the win, handing Marist a rare shutout loss. The Crusaders’ offense also performed well, with Gray accounting for three touchdowns. This win is a testament to the team’s hard work and dedication, and they will look to build on this momentum as they move forward in their season.
FAQs
Q: Who won the Pulaski Road Super Bowl?
A: The Brother Rice Crusaders won the Pulaski Road Super Bowl, defeating Marist 35-0.
Q: Who were the key players in the game?
A: King Liggins and CJ Gray were the key players for the Brother Rice Crusaders, with Liggins anchoring the defense and Gray accounting for three touchdowns.
Q: What was the significance of the win for Brother Rice?
A: The win marked the Crusaders’ first shutout victory over Marist since 2015 and was a significant milestone in their season.
Q: How did Marist perform in the game?
A: Marist got into the red zone just once all night and quarterback Luke Detampel was 12-for-27 passing for 97 yards with one interception. No RedHawk ran for more than 26 yards.
