THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2008
Off and Running
Hawks Outhustle Saxons In 2008 Opener
By DWIGHT ESAU
Journal Sports
The 2008 football season started last weekend, and Maine South's Hawks showed up in playoff form.
Showing speed, aggressiveness on defense, and their usual passing power, the Hawks served notice they are serious about this season, and they are capable of lighting up scoreboards anywhere they play. Perhaps most significantly, the Hawks demonstrated excellent execution in virtually all phases of the game- passing, running, defense, pass rushing, kicking, and depth of talent.
Last Friday night's 52-20 victory over Schaumburg of the Mid Suburban League was a contest for the first two minutes only. South came out in its usual style, defined as "we'll throw until you stop us." On the fifth play of their opening drive, quarterback Charlie Goro sent Joey Orlando down the sideline on a fade pattern, and the speedy wideout outran the Saxon defenders and caught a 36-yard bomb from Goro at the goal line for a quick 7-0 Hawk lead.
But the Saxons returned the ensuing kickoff about 50 yards to the Hawk 45. On the first play, a mis-communication in the Hawk secondary left a Saxon receiver wide open, and the pass and run went for a 45-yard TD score to make it 7-6 before many fans had settled into their seats.
That score was a mirage for Schaumburg, however, and it was a launching pad for the Hawks. South scored on three of its next four possessions, and the Saxons punted five times. Matt Perez took the next Saxon kickoff back for a 90-yard touchdown, but he stepped out of bounds on the Saxon 41. Pausing only momentarily for a breath, the junior newcomer rambled 28 yards to the Saxon 13 two plays later, then ran it in on the next play for a 14-6 lead. The Hawks were off and running and the scoring barrage began.
Perez capped a 58-yard drive with an 11-yard scoring ramble on the next series. Early in the second quarter, Goro completed six passes on one drive, setting up his own 5-yard TD run. Taking the next Saxon punt on their 37, the Hawks roared to the Saxon five but stalled. Orlando's 22-yard field goal made it 31-6. The Hawk defense stuffed the Saxons again and forced a short punt to the Saxon 34. Corby Ryan came in from his regular linebacking chores to storm into the end zone from nine yards out three plays later.
Again, the Saxons punted to the Hawk 47, and Goro led his people into the Saxon end zone in three plays. A pass to Orlando got 7, Perez cut loose for 22, and Goro found Sam Chwarzynski over the middle for a 24-yard TD toss. It was 45-6 at half-time, and the Hawk student section chanted, "This game is over."
In the third quarter, the Hawks opened with subs, but the scoring continued. Backup quarterback Tyler Benz completed a 13-yard pass to Orlando, then threw a 34-yard scoring laser to Brendan Cronin, who out-jumped a shorter Saxon defender for the ball at the Saxon goal line.
From then on, with a running clock, Hawk fans got a look at the whole 75-member varsity as coaches emptied the bench. Two other backup quarterbacks - Nick Virgilio and Alex Romano - got in a couple of series each, and the Saxons scored a couple of touchdowns against deep Hawk reserves.
Goro was 19-of-30 passing for 264 yards and 2 touchdowns. Perez ran 6 times for 94 yards and a couple of TDs. Seven different Hawk receivers caught passes. Orlando was perfect on his only field goal try and seven extra points. About the only Hawk who didn't get in a lot of work was punter Neil McConville, who only had one kick.
The defense racked up five sacks and made several more tackles for losses. They repeatedly pressured Saxon quarterbacks. Making several big plays each were Zach Timm, Demos Tingas, Nick Catino, Ryan, and Chwarzynski.
"It was a good start," said head coach Dave Inserra. "We had a mis-communication on that first pass play, but we fixed that and played well the rest of the way. It was tough to ask our backup quarterbacks to go in and try to do something with minimal preparation, but all of them did well. We didn't want to rub it in during the third quarter, but Tyler Benz showed us something with his passing for that last touchdown."
Goro wasn't pleased with his completion percentage (he started out 5-for-12 in the first quarter but improved that substantially in the second quarter).
"We had a few passes batted down, but overall, we did all right. We wanted to distribute the ball around to a lot of guys, and we were able to do that. That first pass to Joey (the 36-yard TD) was a big confidence builder. We all just picked it up a lot after that happened."
Now, it's on to Warren in Gurnee next weekend.
"They are a big running team, and will try to run it down our throat," Inserra warned his team. "Our run defense has got to be ready."