Get off to a good start and achieve a good result.
That’s what St. Rita head coach Martin Hopkins wanted from the Mustangs in their CCL/ESCC Green opener against St. Francis.
His wish was granted as St. Rita delivered a 31-13 victory on Sept. 20 in Wheaton.
The Mustangs had a 17-0 advantage at halftime and never looked back against the previously undefeated Spartans, who were coming off a road victory over Loyola.
Hopkins called the win “a huge confidence boost.”
“We played very complementary football,” Hopkins said. “This was one of those team wins in which all three phases played to effect.
“We established the run early on and we were fortunate enough to rely on that.”
Mustangs running back Nick Herman had 21 carries for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Justin Buckner ran twice for 34 and two scores, both out of the Wildcat formation.
“Justin is a very good football player,” Hopkins said of Buckner, who has played defensive end and multiple linebacker positions in addition to being the team’s Wildcat quarterback. “He’s a very good athlete and he wants to do everything he can to help the team.
“He’s one of those team-first guys and a jack-of-all-trades. … he’s our ultimate Swiss Army knife.”
St. Rita quarterback Steven Armbruster was 10-of-15 passing for 88 yards.