QBs both step up for Fremd

Fremd's two-headed monster helped devour Hoffman Estates on Friday, thus spoiling Mike Donatucci's return to his former school.

Cordell Finley led Fremd to two quick touchdowns, and Nick Bossong came on to throw a pair of touchdown passes, all in the first half, as the Vikings rolled past Hoffman Estates 48-17 in a Mid-Suburban West opener in Palatine.

"It is really nice," Fremd coach Lou Sponsel said. "We have two quarterbacks and they both are a little bit different. And you have to prepare for both. I am totally comfortable splitting reps with them, and they get each other better during the week."

Finley says it's all about the team getting better as the Vikings moved forward.

"I think that's best - I am not worried about Nick (Bossong) being in, and he is not worried about me being in," said Finley, who directed three scoring drives. "We both care for each other and have each other's back. I was telling Nick that he is more like Peyton Manning or Tom Brady while I am more like Cam Newton or RGIII."

Bossong, who had been nursing a nagging injury the past couple of weeks, also welcomes the opportunity to give openings a different look.

"It feels good to get back," said Bossong, who was 6-of-8 for 220 yards and 3 touchdowns. "The arm felt good out there and I was happy to throw the ball."

Fremd (4-1, 1-0), which finished with 475 yards of offense, took the opening kickoff, and with Finley running the read-option, handed off to Darius Burchett, who busted up the middle untouched for a 37-yard touchdown run.

Hoffman Estates answered with its only scoring drive of the game. The Hawks moved the ball inside the Fremd 10. But after two dropped passes in the end zone, the Hawks had to settle for a 28-yard field goal by Keegan Pierce to make it 7-3 with 6:52 left in the first quarter.

From there, it was all Fremd in the first half.

Finley again directed the offense to another score. After three runs of his own and a handoff to Cody Patenaude, Finley gave the ball on the option to Jawan Gaines, who broke to the right, then reversed field for 28-yard touchdown run and 13-3 Fremd lead.

The Vikings added another score after a defensive stop. Ryan Haas blocked a low punt and Patrick McMahon scooped up the ball and raced 46 yards to make it 20-3.

Fremd then decided to switch signal callers, as Sponsel gave the reins to Bossong, who was the starting quarterback at the beginning of the season.

Bossong showed some of that rust, fumbling his first snap. But he showed his experience by picking up the ball and racing to his left.

With two Hoffman Estates players just about to close in, Bossong fired the ball down the field. It tipped off a Fremd player and Hoffman defender and bounded down the field a few more yards and into the hands of Fremd's Kyle Lewis, who raced untouched to complete a stunning 77-yard touchdown play.

Bossong kept things going on the Vikings' next possession. He completed 3 passes, with the last one a wheel play to Gaines, who outran his defender and had Bossong drop in an easy pass for 23-yard touchdown as Fremd led 34-3 at the half.

Finley took over on the Vikings' first possession of the second half following an interception by Kevin Schmoeller. Just five plays later, Burchett scored on a 6-yard run as Fremd led 41-3 with 8:36 left in the third quarter.

Hoffman Estates (3-2, 0-1), which had 10 penalties for 97 yards, finally was able to finish a couple of scoring drives.

The Hawks, who finished with 434 yards of offense, moved the ball down the field thanks to the running of Chady Bitre (25 carries, 147 years), who stepped in nicely for Connor McCreary, who had a non-football injury.

Jeff Mayes, who was 16-of-42 for 217 yards, threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Biddle. Then after a successful inside kick, Mayes threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Hill and Hoffman closed to 41-17 with 9:50 to play.

But Fremd wasn't done. Bossong threw a sweet fade pass down the Fremd sideline to Patenaude, who beat the defenders down the field for a 91-yard touchdown.

Sponsel was happy to get his team off to a good start in the MSL West.

"Our kids are playing well right now," Sponsel said. "We are just getting better with our technique and execution. The rest takes care of itself."

Donatucci, who had his homecoming to Fremd ruined by penalties and other miscues, was still pleased with his offense.

"Our offensive staff did a (heck of a) job," Donatucci said. "We executed well, too. But when it comes to the money thing, we got to get over that hump."