When a window of opportunity presents itself, even the best game plans are thrown on the back burner.
Larkin coach Dale Schabert had planned on keeping the ball on the ground Friday night in his team’s opener at Hinsdale Central, but when the host Red Devils’ defense began keying on the run, the contest turned into a one-sided aerial show.
Schabert’s son, Matt, threw touchdown passes of 3, 40, 62 and 72 yards to four different receivers and totaled 329 yards as Larkin rolled 43-18 on the opening night of high school football.
Schabert also added two TDs on the ground.
“We didn’t come in planning to put the ball up in the air,” said his father. “But as the game went on, we saw the opportunity to throw and we took advantage.”
Hinsdale Central’s Mike Mangan rushed for 212 yards and accounted for all three of the Red Devils’ scores in defeat.
Barrington 25, Glenbrook South 7: Junior Dan Pohlman rushed 22 times for 99 yards and three touchdowns and Joe Butera returned an interception 68 yards for a score as Barrington pounded the Titans 25-7.
Downers Grove North 12, Zion-Benton 6 (OT): Brian Diebold’s 1-yard run lifted Downers North in overtime.
Glenbrook North 37, Rolling Meadows 27: The victory was Glenbrook North’s first in two years. The Spartans, trailing by four points heading into the fourth quarter, outscored Rolling Meadows 20-6 thanks to Sean Brandt. The junior scored all three touchdowns on runs of 25, 28 and 57 yards and gained 260 yards on 30 carries for the game.
Woodstock 14, Dundee-Crown 7: Jim Murphy threw for 150 yards and two touchdowns as Woodstock prevailed in its Fox Valley Conference opener.
Kaneland 42, Marengo 0: Quarterback Eric Delaney was 9 of 11 for 218 yards and three touchdowns for Kaneland. His main target, P.J. Fleck had six receptions for 140 yards and two TDs.
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West Aurora 12, East Aurora 6: West Aurora trailed 6-0 at the half but scored twice in the third quarter to win. Robert Watson scored on a 26-yard run and Lesroy Tittle caught a 53-yard TD pass from Kevin Presbrey to spark the victors.
Wheaton North 14, Addison Trail 7: Bara Chau and Chad Bradley each rushed for touchdowns for Wheaton North. Anthony Lawicki scored a first-quarter TD on a 90-yard kickoff return for Addison Trail, last year’s Class 6A runner-up.
Crystal Lake South 28, Crystal Lake Central 13: South led 14-13 after three quarters and added two TDs in the fourth in the Fox Valley victory. Nick Weiseman, who had 77 yards receiving, returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown.
Tinley Park 33, Oak Lawn 0: Tinley Park cruised as Shawndale Sumrall (14 carries, 161 yards) scored on runs of 3 and 33 yards.
Fenwick 35, Belleville Althoff 6: Scott Theis and Anthony Binion each ran for a TD as the Friars, playing at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, jumped to a 21-0 lead at the half and cruised.
Notre Dame 45, Amundsen 0: The Dons prevailed behind Nick Beckman’s 110 yards rushing and two TDs.
Chicago Vocational 36, Curie 22: Cassius Chambers rushed for 261 yards and scored three times to lead CVS.
Eisenhower 51, Thornton Fractional North 12: Torri Stuckey (17 carries, 137 yards) scored four touchdowns for Eisenhower.
Johnsburg 7, Grant 6: Johnsburg converted the extra point after a Mike Madsen first-quarter 5-yard TD run. The Skyhawk defense held Grant three times inside its own 15 in fourth quarter to hold on.
Thornton Fractional South 24, Crete-Monee 22: Rico Epps capped the winning drive for T.F. South with his second TD run and stopped Crete’s final drive with a game-saving interception.
Manley 24, Farragut 20: Reggie Carter scored on a 40-yard run and added TD receptions of 36 and 70 yards as the Wildcats led 24-6 after three quarters and held on.
Marian Catholic 27, Joliet 13: Tom Bijak rushed for 142 yards on 25 carries for Marian.
Bogan 20, Collins 12: Ubaldo Meraz connected with Levi Adams on a 28-yard TD pass in the second quarter and ran in from the 1 in the fourth to score the winning TD for Bogan.
Mather 18, Lindblom 0: Mather, which lost 18 lettermen to graduation, was sparked by senior Srecko Cvetkovic and junior Anthony Spacucello. Cvetkovic threw touchdown passes to Spacucello and Alfredo Cruz, and Spacucello rushed for 155 yards on 20 carries.
Prospect 24, Fenton 0: Prospect earned the victory as QB Ryan Puliano scored on runs of 6 and 16 yards, and Kevin Koeneman added a 10-yard TD.
Robeson 28, Julian 0: Kenneth Kendricks scored on runs of 2, 31 and 70 yards for Robeson and totaled 117 rushing yards on seven carries.
Burlington Central 24, Lemont 19: Don Pollnow gained 186 yards and scored two TDs on 21 carries for Burlington. Pollnow’s 27-yard field goal in the fourth quarter sealed the victory.
Tilden 8, Bowen 0: Sam Rush returned an interception 58 yards for Tilden’s lone touchdown.