The one thing Argo football coach Jim Innis didn’t want was a fast start by No. 9 Richards. It took less than a minute for the Argonauts to discover they were in real trouble.
Richards scored two touchdowns in the first three minutes of the game and jumped to a 38-0 halftime lead en route to a 44-8 win.
“They ripped us all the way around,” Argo coach Jim Innis said. “We did the same thing last year except we hung in there [last year] and made a better game of it.”
Both teams came into the game with perfect 4-0 overall records and 2-0 marks in the SICA Orange. Argo, which has been to the playoffs just one time, had been calling the contest with Richards the biggest game in the school’s history. Richards coach Gary Korhonen called Innis’ team the best Argo team he had ever seen. If the game was anything like the buildup, it might have stopped traffic on Harlem Avenue.
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Three plays were all it took to show it would not be Argo’s night. Richards quarterback Chris Humbles caught Argo off guard on the game’s first play from scrimmage with a 27-yard pass to Donte Ellis. Tailback Jason Orozco, who gained 154 yards in 17 carries and scored two touchdowns, weaved 44 yards through the Argo defense to the 1 and scored on the next play. It was a three-play drive that took less than a minute.
The Richards defense held Argo on four downs and gave the offense the ball on the Bulldogs’ 47. After a 7-yard Orozco run and a holding penalty, Humbles hit Ricky Rodriguez with a 58-yard touchdown pass and it was 12-0 with 9:01 left in the quarter. Three minutes ended Argo hopes of remaining unbeaten.
Reid Hanley.
Up next for Richards: Friday at home vs. Eisenhower.
2. Naperville Central
Naperville Central coach Joe Bunge collected his 200th career victory and his Redhawks clinched a postseason playoff berth with a 35-14 DuPage Valley victory over Wheaton North on Friday.
The Redhawks (5-0, 3-0) scored on four of five first-half possessions as quarterback Phil Horvath threw two touchdown passes and running back Kyle Griffith rushed for two more on the way to a 28-0 halftime lead.
Horvath ended the night with an 11-of-19 performance for 237 yards.
Wide receiver Dan Passarelli caught six passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns while Tyke Spencer pulled in seven passes for 115. Griffith closed with 131 yards on 28 carries.
Wheaton North (3-2, 1-2) got on the scoreboard with 5:08 left in the third on a 5-yard TD run from T.J. Griffin. Quarterback Mark Slocum tossed a 17-yard scoring pass to Zach Ullrich early in the fourth quarter to close the scoring.
Jack McCarthy.
Up next: Friday at home vs. Glenbard North.
3. Naperville North
Host Glenbard North upset the Huskies 14-7 in the DuPage Valley contest. See story, Back Page.
Up next: Friday at Wheaton Warrenville South.
4. Maine South
Tony Wnek was 15-for-19 passing for 189 yards and two touchdowns as the Hawks (5-0, 1-0) rolled over No. 19 New Trier 34-7 in the Central Suburban South contest. See story, Back Page.
Up next: Friday at Niles West.
5. Providence
Mike Mentz rushed for 237 yards and four touchdowns in 38 carries as the Celtics (5-0, 3-0) outlasted Brother Rice 44-30 in the Catholic Metro Blue. The victory was coach Matt Senffner’s 250th win at Providence.
Chris Pazan threw two touchdown passes to put Brother Rice up 14-0 in the first quarter before Providence ran off 38 consecutive points. Pazan was 17-of-31 passing for 343 yards.
Up next: Sept. 30 vs. Fenwick at Oak Park.
6. Joliet Catholic
Craig Tomasino was 5-of-6 passing for 122 yards and two touchdowns as the No. 6 Hilltoppers (4-1, 3-0) romped past Bishop McNamara 36-6 in the Catholic Metro White. J.R. Zwierzynski rushed for 129 yards in 13 carries and scored on a 51-yard run for Joliet Catholic. Chris Gruber, who rushed for 132 yards in 14 attempts, scored on a 43-yard run and a 14-yard reception.
Up next: Friday at Notre Dame.
8. Thornton
The Wildcats (5-0, 2-0) defeated Sandburg 27-12 in SICA Blue play. See story, Back Page.
Up next: Sept. 29 at home vs. Bloom.
10. Riverside-Brookfield
Tim Brasic was 32-of-48 passing for 344 yards and two touchdowns as the Bulldogs rolled past Ridgewood 34-0 in the Suburban Prairie White. Matt Tierney caught eight passes for 114 yards while rushing for 30 yards and three touchdowns in five carries.
Up next: Sept. 29 at home vs. Yorkville.
11. Hinsdale South
Przemek Toporkiewicz ran for 80 yards and a touchdown in 12 carries as the Hornets (5-0, 3-0) routed Morton 50-20 in the West Suburban Gold. Hinsdale South jumped to a 37-0 lead and started removing starters in the second quarter. Steve Prohut blocked a punt and returned for a TD to give Hinsdale South a 21-0 second-quarter lead.
Up next: Friday at home vs. Addison Trail.
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12. Prospect
Jason Rodriguez scored two rushing touchdowns and George Smith threw two touchdown passes to Mike Anderson as the Knights (5-0, 1-0) downed Rolling Meadows 35-7 in the Mid-Suburban East. Smith finished with 240 yards passing.
Ryan Galka had an 18-yard TD reception from Tim Ryan for Rolling Meadows (0-5, 0-1).
Up next: Friday at Wheeling.
13. Dunbar
Steve Holden gained 426 all-purpose yards, including 244 yards in 13 carries, and scored five touchdowns as the Mighty Men (5-0, 2-0) cruised past Kenwood 60-0 in the Public Illini Southeast. Holden also had 125 yards in three receptions and a punt return of 57 yards.
Up next: Friday vs. Vocational at Gately Stadium.
14. McHenry
Nick Guardyak rushed for 234 yards and two touchdowns in 22 carries as the Warriors (5-0, 5-0) downed Grayslake 49-12. Guardyak, who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards this season, also scored on a pass reception. Jon Clements had four TD passes for McHenry.
Up next: Friday at home vs. Woodstock.
15. Fremd
Quarterback Steve LaFalce rushed for 86 yards and a touchdown in 20 carries as the Vikings defeated Schaumburg 28-16 in the Mid-Suburban West.
Up next: Friday at Hoffman Estates.
16. Sandburg
The host Eagles fell to No. 8 Thornton 27-12 in the SICA Blue. See story, Back Page.
Up next: Friday at home vs. Joliet.
18. Carmel
The Corsairs (5-0, 3-0) cruised past Notre Dame in the Catholic Metro White as Eric Luna ran for 180 yards and four touchdowns in 14 carries. Luna scored on runs of 1, 1, 22 and 61 yards. Quarterback Matt Rowe had a TD pass and a TD run for Carmel, which is 5-0 for the first time in school history.
Up next: Sept. 29 vs. St. Patrick at Hanson Stadium.
19. New Trier
Mike Duda passed for 174 yards, but the Trevians (4-1, 0-1) fell to No. 4 Maine South 34-7 in the Central Suburban South. See story, Back Page.
Up next: Friday at Glenbrook South.
20. Lincoln-Way Central
Brian Dornbos was 8-of-16 passing for 114 yards and a touchdown as the Knights (4-1, 2-1) routed Lincoln-Way East 40-7 in the SICA Blue. Dornbos also ran for touchdown. Luke Athans added an 82-yard interception return in the fourth quarter.
Up next: Friday at Lockport.