Archive for August 29th, 2016

2016 Chicago Classic Recap

Posted on August 29, 2016. Filed under: Football | Tags: 2016 Chicago Classic, Alek Thomas, Amateur Sports, Amateur Sports Magazine, Amateur Sports News Network, AmateurSports365, ASNN365, Battle of Pulaski, Brother Rice, Caravan, Crusaders, Dan Trudeau, Dino Borrelli, embraced the suck, IHSA, Illinois High School Association, Jake Zylman, Marist, Morgan Taylor, Mount Carmel, Prez Ro, RedHawk, Ricky Smalling, Soldier Field, St. Patrick, St. Rita, Taft, TJ Ivy |

Chicago Classic Recap…

High School Football

August 28, 2016

compiled by Prez Ro
follow back at @PrezRo365

What a way to cap off week 1 in high school football… six teams going at it at legendary Soldier Field. Things got started with the battle of the Saints… Rita vs. Patrick……

St. Patrick wins in a nail biter…

St. Patrick 47, St. Rita 44: Jake Zylman passed for 206 yards and four touchdowns — three to Tim Zaleski — but the Mustangs’ second-half rally fell short. Zylman also rushed 10 times for 83 yards and Shaun Rule had 18 carries for 89 yards and a TD for St. Rita, which trailed 33-14 at halftime.

St. Rita will play host to Rich Central Friday night (we will be onsite for this one); St. Patrick will face Glenbrook South.

Caravan roll in the opener….

… knocking off Chicago Taft 49-7.

It was the Alek Thomas show as he made it to the end zone three (3) times in the season opener at legendary Soldier Field including an opening score for 49 yards on a screen. The other two were from 1 yard out on a wildcat QB keeper and from 26 yards out.

Taft did get on the board at the end of the game on a nice fade toss from sophomore Peter Fusek to senior Joshua Meyer.

Dan Trudeau went 3-for-4 for 112 yards and two TDs to finish the game. Jake Moriarty also put on a show in the contest adding 83 yards on nine carries for the Caravan.

Apparently the Caravan “embraced the suck!” coach Frank Lenti’s mantra for summer training.

Game highlights can be seen by clicking here via MaxPreps.

Mount Carmel plays Gary West Side next Friday night; Taft will face Chicago Uplift Saturday afternoon.

Building Men & Women via Athletics

Crusaders topple the RedHawks

Two top-ranked teams, faced off at Soldier Field Sunday for the BATTLE of PULASKI! As a four-loss Marist team rolled to the Class 8A state title game last season and with many of those key players back this season. they were the favs… but Brother Rice dominated 3 1/2 quarters to seal the victory 31-7.

Offensively the Crusaders did it behind the play of senior quarterback Dino Borrelli and Ricky Smalling. The Illinois-recruit Smalling grabbed a 56-yard touchdown pass on the Crusaders’ first drive of the game and showed not only his ability to catch but he displayed his natural speed sprinting to the end zone.

“It’s just amazing,” Smalling said. “I’ve wanted to play at Soldier Field a long time and it’s special to come out here and get the win against Marist.”

Marist kept it close in the first half thanks to TJ Ivy’s 57-yard TD reception from junior quarterback Morgan Taylor, but the RedHawks trailed 14-7 at halftime, but couldn’t find much rhythm after that. Taylor did show his talents over all, finishing the game 14-of-19 passes for over 130 yards.

“When you look at this game, there were a lot of opportunities out there,” Marist coach Pat Dunne said. “This hurts all of us, but it’s Week 1 of the season. We’ve been in this position before.”

Borrelli, in his first start, finished the opener going 11-for-21 for 185 yards with two touchdown passes and a two-yard TD run after an interception from Aarion Lacy, giving the Crusaders a commanding 28-7 lead less than three minutes after Smalling’s second TD grab.

“Dino is a heck of a football player, he just needs to get some experience with us,” Brother Rice coach Brian Badke said. “Having his first start in this type of setting is pretty intimidating but he did a great job. He’s a good kid and a leader, I’m really proud of him.”

The Crusaders also got things going on the ground with running back Xavion Valladay, who ran for over 120 yards on 16 carries including a spectacular sprint for 71-yards and a score in the second quarter.

Now on the other side of the ball, Brother Rice defense was solid keeping them from scoring after first quarter.

In short, the Crusaders dominated the game and showed everyone that they should be taken seriously in the Chicago Catholic Blue conference.

Rice will host Crete-Monee next Friday night, while Marist host Simeon.