Sure, R.J. Luke continued his state-record streak for catching a pass in 34 consecutive games. But who cares? Not after R.J. proved his worth more than any record could in No. 15 Waubonsie Valley’s 9-7 victory over host St. Charles (1-3, 1-1) Friday night.
Luke intercepted a pass with 59 seconds left and returned it 16 yards for the winning score. He suffered a possible broken hand on the previous series when his hand got caught under the helmet of a St. Charles player.
“If there was any way he could be in there, we were going to make sure he was,” said Luke’s father and coach B.J. Luke. “He’s our playmaker. We’re just glad he’s on our team.”
The Saints had a chance to win it but missed a 38-yard field goal as time expired.
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Luke caught three passes for 41 yards and Justin Slais rushed for 120 yards as the Warriors improved to 3-1, 1-1 in the Upstate Eight.
Providence 14, Joliet Catholic 0: Top-ranked Providence (4-0, 2-0 Catholic Metro White) needed just two touchdowns to run its winning streak to 46 straight games. Adam O’Reel tossed an 18-yard scoring strike to David Popp with 3 minutes left in the first quarter and then hit Popp again for a 66-yarder to open the second quarter. Gregg Braun picked off two passes for the Celtics. The first thwarted a Joliet Catholic (1-3, 1-1) drive and set up Providence’s first score.
Naperville Central 53, West Chicago 0: D.J. Johnson, playing in only the first half, rushed for 107 yards and touchdowns of 9, 14 and 43 yards as the second-ranked Redhawks (4-0, 2-0) routed visiting West Chicago (1-3, 0-2) in the DuPage Valley. Christian Pearson added two first-half touchdown passes and Nick Phend recovered a blocked punt for another score.
Lincoln-Way 21, Lockport 11: Matt Joseph ran for one touchdown and caught another as No. 4 Lincoln-Way (4-0, 2-0 SICA Blue) handed Lockport (3-1, 1-1) its first loss. Cory Paus completed 5 of 10 passes for 71 yards, including the touchdown pass to Joseph, and also ran for 60 yards. A 1-yard run by Damien Ware and a 47-yard field goal by Nick Setta accounted for all of Lockport’s scoring.
Sandburg 42, Joliet 15: Bryan Thorson (10 for 20, 202 yards) tossed four touchdown passes to lead the 10th-ranked Eagles (4-0, 2-0 SICA Blue) past winless Joliet (0-4, 0-2). Joliet actually led twice, taking a 7-0 lead on a Justin Parks-to-Sean Randich touchdown pass, and then went ahead again 15-8 on Johnny Justice’s 49-yard run. Sandburg then scored 28 unanswered points. Sandburg’s Brian Corcoran rushed for 156 yards, 87 of which came on a second-quarter touchdown run that tied the game at 15-15.
Richards 21, Eisenhower 7: No. 12 Richards (4-0, 2-0) did all its scoring in the first half and then fought off Eisenhower in the second half to claim the SICA Orange victory. Jason Littleton, who rushed for 71 yards, scored on a 19-yard run for the Bulldogs’ first score. Chris Lewis scored Eisenhower’s lone TD on a 2-yard keeper.
Maine South 27, New Trier 7: The 13th-ranked Hawks (4-0) used three Trevians turnovers to mold a 27-7 victory at the New Trier West stadium. Dino Gardiakos did not score but rushed for 126 yards on 23 carries for Maine South, which scored 20 points in the third quarter to put the game away. New Trier is 2-2.
Downers Grove South 27, Downers Grove North 10: No. 14 Downers South (4-0) scored on its first possession of the second half to break open a 13-10 game and rolled to the victory over the crosstown rival Trojans (3-1). Pat Marek capped a 68-yard drive with a 30-yard touchdown run for the Mustangs’ first score of the second half.
Naperville North 14, Glenbard East 7: No. 16 Naperville North (3-1, 2-0) escaped with a DuPage Valley victory on the strength of its defense. The Huskies defense held Glenbard East (2-2, 0-2) to 131 yards of offense. Quarterback Kevin Kobe (13 for 20, one TD) led the Naperville North offense, which fumbled nine times.
Rich East 42, Oak Forest 27: Walter Young completed 6 of 12 passes for 256 yards, including two touchdown strikes to Richard McNutt to lead No. 17 Rich East (4-0, 2-0) over host Oak Forest (1-3, 0-2) in the SICA Orange. McNutt, who caught five passes for 197 yards, also recorded an interception as the Rockets forced four Oak Forest turnovers. John White (seven carries, 63 yards) added two rushing touchdowns for Rich East.
Larkin 64, DeKalb 0: No. 19 Larkin (3-1, 1-1 Upstate Eight) set a school record for points in a game without star running back Vince Webber. Webber, who injured an ankle last week, slipped on wet grass on his first carry and left the game. Sophomore running back Trevann Hayes scored on a 55-yard run, a 45-yard interception return, a 16-yard pass from Matt Schabert and an 85-yard punt return. DeKalb, which committed five turnovers, fell to 0-4, 0-2.