Football Wrap | Brother Rice rolls St. Viator in home opener

By Mike Walsh
Correspondent

From Maine South and Loyola in the northern suburbs to St. Ignatius just west of Chicago’s Loop to Marist five or so minutes south on Pulaski Road, Brother Rice has spent a lot of travel time in 2023.

After opening the season with four consecutive road games due to scheduling and other obstacles, the Crusaders celebrated their first home date by playing a rude host to St. Viator.

In an CCL/ESCC crossover on Sept. 15, Rice sent the Lions back to Arlington Heights with a 56-7 defeat as their parting gift.

“The kids were happy to play in front of their buddies and families and to not hop on a bus,” Crusaders coach Casey Quedenfeld said. “That’s pretty simple, I would think.

“The crowd was a little antsy, but it was a good turnout. It was good for the kids and good for the community.”

Senior running back Randall Nauden, who will play at the Naval Academy beginning next fall, scored three touchdowns as the Crusaders (3-2) outscored the Lions (3-2) 42-0 in the second half. Nauden’s night was highlighted by tallying on runs of 60 and 25 yards.

Assisting Nauden’s performance was the Brother Rice offensive line. Tackles Conor Kenzinger and Tilon Foreman, guards Luke Peterson and Nick Baser and center Eddie Maloney gave Nauden plenty of room to run.

“Our offensive line did a great job,” Quedenfeld said. “And Randall had a good game, and he doesn’t do what he does without them.

Impact players for the Crusaders included Donovan Brown (2 interceptions including a pick-6), Camden Rodgers (20-yard TD run) and KJ Morris (punt return TD). Marcus Brown and Richard Willis also scored for Rice.

IC Prep 28, Marist 21
Running back John McAuliffe carried 25 times for 173 yards and two touchdowns for visiting Marist, but the RedHawks fell to 1-4 with a seven-point loss to IC Catholic.

Marist likely needs to win its final four games to qualify for the Class 8A playoffs. The RedHawks have home games remaining against CCL/ESCC Green rival Joliet Catholic (3-2, 1-0 Green) and De La Salle (2-3) before traveling to St. Patrick (1-4) and Niles Notre Dame (2-3, 0-1 Green). Marist last failed to qualify for the state playoffs in 2014.

Benet 20, De La Salle 12
Myles Green returned a fumble 57 yards for a touchdown and took a kickoff 78 yards for another score for host De La Salle (2-3) in a CCL/ESCC crossover. Tristyn Hynes and Alex Luevanos (8 tackles apiece) and Kaleb Navarro and David McCarthy (7 tackles each) paced the Meteors’ defense.

St. Laurence 50, Leo 8
Aaron Ball scored on runs of 13, 5, 29 and 3 yards for visiting St. Laurence (4-1) in a CCL/ESCC crossover played at St. Rita. Ball finished the game with 10 carries for 125 yards.

Corey Taubr also found the end zone for the Vikings on a 6-yard rushing TD, while Ayden Ginn caught a 21-yard scoring strike from Evan Les (6-of-8 passing, 81 yards). Connor Engstrom tallied on a kickoff return for St. Laurence.

Jacob Bylina (6 tackles) and Cesar Chavez (6 tackles, 1 sack) keyed a Viking defense that limited Leo to minus-1 yard rushing.

St. Rita 42, Marmion 0
Samuel Gyimah scored on a 7-yard run and a 42-yard pass from Jett Hilding (4-of-5 passing, 111 yards) for host St. Rita (4-1) in a CCL/ESCC crossover. Derrick Stewart (7 carries, 114 yards) scored on runs of 27 and 58 yards while Jimmie Maxson III (50-yard pass from Hilding) and Nick Herman (43-yard run) also provided points for the Mustangs, who led 42-0 at halftime.

Lyons 49, Proviso West 0
In Hillside, the visiting Lions (3-2, 2-1) were winners in West Suburban Silver action. The Lions have outscored their opponents 124-54 on the season and 101-30 in the last three games, in which they have gone 2-1.

Nazareth 21, St. Ignatius 13
Defending Class 5A state champion Nazareth Academy (1-4) kept its state playoff aspirations alive with a CCL/ESCC crossover triumph in LaGrange Park.

Since 2007, the Roadrunners have made the state playoffs 12 times under head coach Tim Racki. They last missed the postseason in 2012.

Mount Carmel 37, Carmel 16
Darrion Dupree and Alonzo Manning scored touchdowns and Mount Carmel (5-0) rallied from a 16-14 deficit in the third quarter to prevail in a CCL/ESCC crossover in Chicago. The Caravan maintain have outscored their opponents 168-68 this season.

Homewood-Flossmoor 41, Stagg 13
In Palos Hills, Stagg (3-2) dropped a SouthWest Suburban crossover. Tre Washington (30-yard TD reception) and Anas Ahmed (33-yard TD reception) provided the points for the Chargers, who began the season with three straight wins but have lost two in a row by a combined tally of 82-13.

Crete-Monee 42, Riverside-Brookfield 7
Visiting R-B (3-2, 1-2) dropped a Southland Conference contest. The Bulldogs, who have lost two straight, have been outscored 90-13 in the last pair of games.

Downers Grove South 34, Morton 0
Host Morton (1-4, 1-1) fell in West Suburban Gold play in Berwyn. The Mustangs, who have dropped two in a row, have been outscored 199-63 on the season.

Hope Academy 1, Chicago Christian 0
Chicago Christian (2-3, 0-3) forfeited its Chicagoland Christian Conference game slated to be played in Chicago.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Saint Xavier 31, Madonna 7
The No. 18 Cougars (2-2) rolled at home as Stuart Ross (9-of-12 passing) threw for 232 yards and three touchdowns in nonconference action. Wide receiver Justin Pringle totaled 139 yards receiving on two catches for a pair of touchdowns. Amari Venerable (7 carries, 56 yards) added a rushing TD while Brandt Hixson finished with two catches for 41 yards and a touchdown. Peyton Benes accounted for the other points for SXU with a 38-yard field goal.