Griffin Zajac and Aurora Central Catholic checked off a couple boxes Saturday.
Clinching a return to the playoffs was unfinished business. Scoring a special teams touchdown, though, was circled as a priority this week.
“We’ve always had great returns,” said Zajac, a senior returner and wide receiver “We just never popped one.”
Zajac ended that wait real quick.
His 42-yard punt return was one of a flurry of six Chargers scoring plays in the first quarter at Walther Christian. ACC wrapped up its fourth playoff berth in five years with a 62-0 Metro Suburban Red win on a rainy afternoon in Melrose Park.
The Chargers (6-0, 2-0) have come a long way since last season’s 3-6 finish.
“It means the world,” Zajac said. “We put everything we got into this. We woke up at 6 a.m. every day to come to practice and lift during the summer and it’s coming together.”
And they’re not done yet.
“We had six goals and there are still four ahead of us,” ACC coach John Belskis said. “Getting a home playoff game was one of our goals. We still have that in front of us.”
Zajac was the smallest player on the field for ACC, but the 5-foot-8, 150-pounder made a huge impact early.
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His 46-yard punt return set up Ryan Cerza’s 15-yard TD run. Next time Zajac saw the ball, he took the 42-yard return untouched down the right side.
Not done, Zajac returned a third punt 27 yards and a play later caught a 37-yard TD pass from Johnny Belskis up the left seam for a 21-0 lead.
“Any touchdown is a touchdown, but special teams help us win,” Zajac said. “It’s all about the blocking. We’ve been practicing and practicing, and the gap opened on the punt. I just hit the hole. I can’t thank the line enough.”
ACC had little trouble finding the end zone early — and in a hurry — against winless Walther (0-6, 0-2). The Chargers had three one-play scoring drives in ringing up a 42-0 lead after only a quarter.
Cerza (11 carries, 155 yards) had TD runs of 15 and 57 yards, and Zajac caught his TD on the first play of a drive. Patrick Flanagan added a 41-yard interception return, and scored on a 7-yard run in the second half.
“We don’t have any superstars,” John Belskis said. “What’s nice about this group is nobody cares who gets the credit. We’re enjoying the journey.”
The Chargers, though, are probably anxious for a little more competition.
ACC has outscored Guerin and Walther, both winless, 109-0 the last two weeks.
“We like challenges,” Cerza said. “We’re ready to pick it up to another level.”
Joshua Welge is a freelance writer for The Beacon-News.