Michael Fitzgerald, Brother Rice down St. Rita
Michael Fitzgerald is not everywhere on the ground to Brother Rice. It only seems that.
The senior edge rusher plays with a furious and relentless style that makes it difficult to manage.
“I think everything comes down to mentality,” said Fitzgerald. “Some guys don’t want to give their full effort as when they are tired or their legs are dead. Wherever I can play, I will.
“I always give the best of my best wherever I can.”
Fitzgerald was one of the best in defense Friday evening for the Crusaders with six plated in a 28-10 victory against the host of St. Rita in Chicago. He also forced an interception.
The senior ball carrier Jaylin Green marked on a pass of a touch of 69 yards of the quarter-back senior CJ Gray and also rushed for a pair of 8 yards to direct Brother Rice (3-0). Jovan Green Jr., Jaylin’s brother, also caught a TD pass of 26 yards from Gray.
The junior ball carrier Brandon Johnson Jr. came with a 1 rod TD race for St. Rita (1-2). The Senior Senior Botter Ruiz added a 33 yards basket.
The 6 -foot and 205 pound Fitzgerald, meanwhile, has shown flexibility and versatility of position in the unlocking of an athletic and impactful defense which did not make a first try in the second or third quarter on Friday.
Fitzgerald started the game at Edge Rusher. He also moved inside on the line and played the outside secondary. His pressure has set up an interception of senior security Daniel Speski in the first half.
“It is everywhere,” said Brother Rice’s coach Queenfeld. “He is fast and physical, and he has a great intelligence for the game. He has found his place at the edge.
“We have three Power Four recruits on our defensive line – it should go somewhere. He is so good and impactful. “
The senior defensive line player King Liggins, a recruit from Illinois, stressed that Fitzgerald’s training habits are something that the rest of the team feeds.
“I love this guy,” said Liggins. “He is a leader. He is fierce. It just brings great energy to practice. This is the blow in the arm of what we always need. He’s just this guy.
“Instead of making a statement, he will play.”
Fitzgerald wears the same jersey n ° 3 as his older brother Joe, a defensive side outside competition on the finalist in class 8a 2018 of Brother Rice. Joe’s twin, Danny, was a defensive return to this team. A third brother, Charlie, also played the second in the program.
As a younger, Michael looked at and learned it, never taking the easy solution.
“Football was still around me,” he said. “We had this match that we played when I grew up where I was Troy Polamalu.” These are the three come after me.
“They would say that you don’t go out from here as long as you can’t fight us and things like that.”
Fitzgerald, who has an offer from the NCAA Division III Wisconsin-Eau Claire, hopes to raise his recruitment profile this season.
Regardless of what is happening, he has become a critical piece on a first channel defense for Brother Rice who did not allow a TD the last two games.
“Last year, I was an actor,” said Fitzgerald. “I have turned a good amount, but I didn’t start every game. I really reached weight during the offseason, I worked on my speed and my packaging.
“Now I am a captain and ready for full time.”
His naturally competitive personality is associated with an undesirable reaction to loss.
“I just hate that feeling,” he said. “Last year, we fought against this with Marist, Rita and Loyola. I am now going in every match by remembering what it felt and never wanting to start again.
“I go around, I fly, I play disciplined and play hard.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is an independent journalist for the Daily Southtown.
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