skip navigation

WSN15: Football Top Teams #10 - 2009 Marquette Hilltoppers

12/11/2017, 12:30pm CST
By Travis Wilson

The WSN15 series will celebrate the 15th Anniversary of WisSports.net by looking back at the top players, teams, and moments of the past 15 years (2003-2017). 

For the Top 15 Teams countdown, more than one season of a program was considered for inclusion on the list, as long as the seasons featured different waves of players. For example, the 2008 and 2012 teams of the same school would be considered, but not necessarily the 2012 and 2013 teams.

The Top 15 Teams countdown is not a "Who would beat who?" list, as that would be heavily weighted towards big schools. Factors in determining the Top 15 Teams included: how dominant the team was compared to contemporaries, how impressive the team was in big games, quality of competition faced, number of high-level players, and more.

Top 15 Teams: #10 - 2009 Marquette Hilltoppers

The 2009 Marquette Hilltoppers featured an extremely efficient quarterback in Kevin Fink, who would throw for 1,881 yards with 22 touchdowns, a pair of 1000-yard rushers in Brock LaFace and John LoCoco, plus All-Conference receiver Marvin Paine, who played at Minnesota State. However, it was the defensive unit that most people remember when talking about that group, and it was the defense that would dominate in the Division 1 state title game.

The Hilltoppers advance unbeaten through the regular season in 2009, allowing single digits in the final six games of the year. In the playoffs, Marquette got quite a scare from Oak Creek in Level 2, seeing the Knights score four touchdowns in the second quarter to take a 28-14 halftime lead. However, the Hilltoppers righted the ship and rallied for a 35-28 victory. A week later, Marquette rallied in the fourth quarter once again to defeat Kenosha Bradford, led by a junior named Melvin Gordon, 35-28. The following week would be a bit easier, as the Hilltoppers put a running clock on Arrowhead in a 35-0 shutout to advance to the team's first WIAA state championship game.

Waiting at Camp Randall would be Greater Metro Conference rival Menomonee Falls, a team the Hilltoppers defeated 27-7 during the regular season.

On its first possession of the game, Marquette would march 49 yards on 13 plays, capped off by a one-yard Brock LaFace touchdown run to put the Hilltoppers up 7-0.

Neither team was able to do much offensively he rest of the way, as the teams combined for 14 punts and a pair of turnovers. Ultimately, the 7-0 score held up in one of the lowest-scoring state title games in WIAA history.

The smothering Marquette defense allowed just 51 yards in the game, with just four of them coming after halftime. It was an incredible performance by one of the most talented defenses this state has seen.

Senior twin brothers Marcus and Michael Trotter would each go on to star at the University of Wisconsin, as Michael was named the co-Defensive Player of the Year by the WFCA in 2009. Fellow All-State choice Cameron Botticelli, an outside linebacker, walked on at Minnesota before earning a starting role for the Gophers. Junior defensive lineman Mark Scarpinato went on to play at Michigan State. All told, eight defensive players received either First or Second Team All-Conference recognition.

For the latest and most up to date football news and recruiting information, follow Travis on Twitter @travisWSN. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Travis at travis(at)wissports.net.

Tag(s): News Archive  News  Travis Wilson  WSN15