Make no mistake.
St. Rita’s offense is very much centered around running the football and always has been.
But the Mustangs have a more than capable passer too.
Quarterback John Fennell set a program single-game passing record with 322 yards in a 56-24 Catholic League crossover win against Benet on Oct. 10. The senior threw four TD passes as the Mustangs (5-3), who have won three games in a row, scored 49 points in the first half. Fennell finished 13 of 21 passing.
“John actually set the record in the first half,” St. Rita head coach Martin Hopkins said. “John just did a good job of seeing downfield, letting the play develop and not hurrying too much. He was patient and he trusted the offensive line. … Our offense just had a really good day.”
TJ Burgos (four catches, 151 yards) pulled in three TD passes of 40, 63 and 30 yards, while Vinny Stubitsch (six catches, 113 yards) was on the receiving end of a 15-yard scoring strike from Fennell.
Meanwhile, Lindenwood commit Brandon Johnson Jr. and Doniven Campbell led the running game. Johnson (19 carries, 164 yards) scored on runs of 14 and 18 yards while Campbell (seven carries, 112 yards) had TDs of 4 and 47 yards.
Brother Rice 48, DePaul Prep 0: Jameson Davis (13 carries, 106 yards, two TDs), Decatur Washington (14 carries, 100 yards) and Collin Cooper (four carries, 53 yards, TD) led the ground game for visiting Brother Rice (6-2). Sam Holcomb (15 of 20 passing, 225 yards) threw three TD passes, including one each to Anthony Cartolano (five catches, 152 yards) and Jahon Edwards (four catches, 74 yards).
Downers Grove North 17, Lyons 10: EJ Kuhlman (27 carries, 87 yards) scored on a 5-yard run for visiting Lyons (6-2, 3-2) in the West Suburban Silver. Wolfie Ketterling added a 22-yard field goal.
Evergreen Park 36, Argo 6: Gavin Wheeler scored on runs of 14 and 1 yards for visiting Evergreen Park (6-2, 3-2) in the South Suburban Red. Tyler Phelps (72-yard run), Brady Bruen (1-yard run) and Garret Kazmierowicz (2-yard run) also had TDs. Chance Sanders threw a 31-yard TD pass to Axel Samaniego for Argo (0-8, 0-5).
Mount Carmel 42, Joliet Catholic 14: Brady Cloherty threw five TD passes for Mount Carmel (6-2) in in Joliet. Marshaun Thornton (40 yards, 7 yards), Ty Kennedy (34 yards), Quentin Burrell (18 yards) and Danny Leyden (3 yards) scored in the air for the Caravan while Jamarri Thompson added a 2-yard run.
Nazareth 28, St. Patrick 0: JJ Chapman threw a pair of TD passes to Jackson Flickinger (43 and 12 yards) and one to Henry Sakalas (35 yards) for host Nazareth (4-4). Charles Calhoun (5-yard run) also scored for the Roadrunners.
Oak Lawn 15, Eisenhower 0: Host Oak Lawn (7-1, 5-1) prevailed in the South Suburban Red as Danny Strelow (1-yard run) and Jayden Schlosser (5-yard run) scored.
Sandburg 59, Stagg 0: Nasir Dixon carried seven times for 115 yards and scored on runs of 52, 9 and 6 yards for host Sandburg (6-2, 3-2) in the SouthWest Suburban. Sean Ruisz and Vinny Annel added rushing TDs for the Eagles. Max Fahey (8 of 10, 78 yards) threw TD passes to Will Beeler and Hamzah Razvi Rajek, while Ayo Adeleye had a 31-yard pick-six. Stagg is 2-6, 0-5.
TF South 22, Reavis 16: Dardan Nreci (1-yard run), Brandon Seymore (8-yard run) and Xavier Arroyo (32-yard field goal) provided points for visiting Reavis (4-4).