Walther Lutheran running back Ed Roberts describes himself as a quiet leader. Saturday afternoon, the 220-pound bruiser made a loud statement.
Roberts went over the 100-yard mark for the first time this season and ran for three touchdowns to lead the Broncos to a 39-16 Private School League victory over Nazareth in Melrose Park.
“I saved my best game for last,” said Roberts, who rushed for 108 yards in nine carries. “I’m usually used as a blocking back, but today I got the chance to carry the ball.”
Walther Lutheran (9-0, 5-0) led 18-10 at the half behind a pair of touchdown runs from Roberts and an 11-yard quarterback keeper by Clarence Flowers Jr.
Flowers, who had 159 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, connected with LaFringe Hayes on a 13-yard scoring pass to open a 25-10 lead with 9 minutes 52 seconds left in the third.
Roberts then added a 10-yard touchdown run midway through the third to give the Broncos their largest lead at 32-10.
“Roberts is probably the best-kept secret around,” said Broncos coach Bo Flowers, whose team won its 11th straight conference game and 18th straight regular-season game. “I wanted to turn Roberts loose and let him run over people.”
Walther Lutheran’s Todd Dulaney, who ran for 129 yards in 22 carries and added an interception on defense, capped the scoring on a 1-yard dive with 18 seconds remaining.
Tim Musachio was 15-of-32 passing for 255 yards to lead Nazareth (4-5, 4-1).
— Joe Yovino
Driscoll 10, Marmion 6: Victor Arlis scored on a 1-yard plunge in the third quarter and Matt Butler kicked a 22-yard field goal in the fourth to help Driscoll (8-1, 6-1) tip Marmion (4-5, 3-4) and earn a share of the Suburban Catholic title.
Junior defensive back Jeremy Netzer blocked an extra point and had two interceptions, including a 57-yard return to set up Arlis’ third-quarter score.
“I wanted the end zone bad,” Netzer said. “But the offense ended up getting the touchdown.”
Fenwick 17, De La Salle 14: Dan Hillen threw a 78-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Quinn in the third quarter to give Fenwick (4-5, 4-4) the edge in the Catholic Metro Blue. Kevin Meehan tallied 104 yards rushing, including a 20-yard score.
Hales Franciscan 40, Leo 14: James Nash opened the game with a 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and Hales (3-6, 2-3) never looked back. Dwayne Smith had 186 yards rushing and scored on runs of 11 and 39 yards.
Herscher 30, Evergreen Park 12: Josh Wakey was 8-of-18 passing for 210 yards and two touchdowns to lead Herscher (5-4, 4-3) in the Suburban Prairie White.
Lake Forest Academy 52, Mooseheart 38: Olufemi Adetiba tallied 245 yards rushing and four touchdowns and Chase Duerson ran for two scores as the Wildcats (9-0, 7-0) rolled.
Lyons 46, Proviso West 12: Quarterback Matt Bruckner scored on runs of 45 and 3 yards and also connected with Dan Smessart in the end zone on an 18-yard toss as Lyons (6-3, 5-1) earned a share of the West Suburban Silver title.
Maine East 34, Niles North 12: The Blue Demons (1-8, 1-4) rolled in the Central Suburban North to avoid a winless season as Nick George threw for three touchdowns, including a 64-yard strike to Rommel Lipscomb in the second quarter.
Montini 40, Immaculate Conception 25: Kevin Tyrrell rushed for 185 yards in 25 carries and three touchdowns to help Montini (7-2, 6-1) overcome an 18-12 halftime deficit and win a share of the Suburban Catholic title for the first time in five years.
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Bill Dunne threw for 237 yards and connected with Joe Mastrino three times in the end zone for Immaculate Conception (4-5, 2-5).
Thornwood 26, Thornton 7: In the SICA Blue, Phillip Mixon rushed for three touchdowns as the Thunderbirds (5-4, 4-3) defeated Thornton for the first time since 1993.
“We lost a lot of close games this year, nobody blew us off the field,” Thornwood coach Andre Collins said. “To me we have a state-playoff-caliber team, but unfortunately we won’t be there.”
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Collins 58, Austin 14: Collins (4-5) cruised as Pat Williams ran for four touchdowns and Jermaine Johnson threw for two more, connecting with both Lardell Smith and Kyur Moses in the first quarter.
Simeon 42, Carver 19: Simeon (5-4) scored on the opening play from scrimmage, an 80-yard pass from quarterback Kurtis Ellison to Tom Gray, to spark a 28-point opening quarter.
Ellison rushed for three more scores, including two in the fourth to put the game out of reach.
Carver’s all-purpose quarterback, Jerod Milan, returned the second-half kickoff 90 yards to get Carver (6-3) on the board.