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It sets up as deja vu all over again.
A year ago, Providence and Minooka met in Week 2, and Celtics improved to 2-0 with a hard-fought 7-0 victory. The Indians were coming off a tough loss to Morris in their opener.
This time, the Celtics are riding the adrenaline rush from a 40-34 season-opening victory over Joliet Catholic, while the Indians are attempting to regoup from a stinging 14-6 loss to Morris. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Matt Senffner Field in the Season Pass Spotlight Game for the Herald-News.
“I’ve got to do a better job leading our team,” Minooka quarterback Joe Carnagio said after the Morris game. “I’ve got to make plays. They made one big play and we didn’t. Our defense did a really great job and we didn’t on offense.
“As a senior captain, I’ve been through this before. We’ve got to bounce back now and win at Providence.”
While, Carnagio and his teammates seek the first victory for first-year coach Paul Forsythe, Providence would like nothing better than to open 2-0, what with the rugged Catholic Blue schedule awaiting.
The Celtics unveiled their new quarterback last week in untested junior Dominic Lagone. A former running back playing quarterback for the first time, Lagone completed 8-of-12 passes for 135 yards against Joliet Catholic.
With a performance like that, did Lagone set the bar almost too high?
“He’s that type of kid,” coach Mark Coglianese said with a smile. “Yes, we will expect a lot from him in the future.”
Providence hurt Joliet Catholic with a double pass for a touchdown last week and also set up the only touchdown in last year’s Minooka game with a similar double pass. As Carnagio suggested, a big play or two may be vital in the outcome again Friday night.
