Allen, St. Edward pick up where they left off
Opponents found St. Edward running back Dwayne Allen difficult enough to stop last season.
Now he has a wingman. Or more accurately, a wildcat.
Allen, named the offensive player of the year in the Metro Suburban East last season after he rushed for 1,573 yards and 19 touchdowns, picked up right where he left off against Aurora Central Catholic in Friday's season opener at Greg True Field in Elgin.
The senior tailback rushed 21 times for 217 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 41-0 rout of the Chargers, but Saveon Smith was nearly as dangerous. Lined up at quarterback in the wildcat formation, the elusive sophomore carried 13 times for 157 yards, including second-half touchdowns of 4 and 25 yards, to spoil John Belskis' debut as head coach of the Chargers.
"Coach Ro (Mike Rolando) called me before the preseason and talked about how we'd have to run the wildcat and I took the role," said Smith, also the team's shutdown corner. "I felt really comfortable coming out here. We practiced it every day, every day. It was repetition."
Both Allen and Smith relied on their speed, vision and cutback ability to rip off chunks of yardage. Allen turned in runs of 27 and 28 yards and a pair of 30-yard touchdowns. Smith posted gains of 33 and 38 yards and a 25-yard touchdown as St. Edward outrushed ACC 394-12.
"He's a threat throwing the ball or running the ball" Allen said, "so I know Saveon can get the amount of yards that I get at any given time.
The duo also had plenty of help from their offensive line of right tackle Haydn Hilton, right guards Ruben Montiel and Will Stevens, center AJ Salvadore, left guard Jake French and left tackle Michael Montes.
Many of those same faces helped the defense limit the Chargers to 47 total yards, including Hilton, who registered a second-quarter sack.
"I think the offensive line and defensive line for them outplayed us on both sides of the ball," Belskis said. "When you lose up front it's tough."
Allen scored touchdowns on the first two St. Edward possessions with the Green Wave marching 66 yards each time.
The Chargers had a chance to pull within a touchdown midway through the second quarter after sophomore linebacker Jackson Robbert picked off a pass from St. Edward sophomore quarterback Dylan Mlinarich, a left-hander who alternated with Smith at the position.
Following the turnover ACC drove from the St. Edward 22-yard line to the 4, but the Chargers turned the ball over on downs. Tight end Brandon Warren caught a pass in the flat from quarterback Johnny Belskis, but he was immediately hit for a 3-yard loss by St. Edward safety Jimmy Harkins.
St. Edward subsequently drove 93 yards in 10 plays to make it 21-0 with 1:37 left in the first half. Allen capped the drive with one of his patented downfield cutbacks to complete a 30-yard scoring jaunt.
"They were bringing a lot of guys to stop Dwayne," Rolando said. "Some of the plays he scored on were blocked real well; some of the plays he scored on he created on his own. Same thing with Saveon. Those are our two good athletes that can make things happen. I'm just proud of the effort all across the board."
The Chargers will look at the film and try to make corrections before next week's home opener against Lisle.
"We'll see what they're made of," Belskis said of his young team, which includes five seniors. "They say you learn more from your losses than your wins. Well, we learned a lot tonight."