ICCP earns first 9-0 regular season
Luke Ricobene was as relaxed as any quarterback could be.
By the time the IC Catholic junior, who directs one of the most high-powered offenses in the Chicago area, took the football field Friday night, his team already had 14 points on the scoreboard.
A pair of pick-6s by Khali Saunders and Lazerick Eatman gave the Knights all the momentum they needed, and they rolled to a 49-0 Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division victory over host Fenton in Bensenville.
That put the finishing touches on the first 9-0 regular season in school history. The Knights (9-0, 5-0) are averaging 52 points a game and have shut out six opponents, including the last three.
"This game goes all to the defense," Ricobene said. "It's awesome going out there with a lead, not have any plays and we're already up 14-0. No need to worry about too much on offense."
Ricobene completed 7 of 10 passes for 150 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown pass to Matt Sutton, and ran for a 2-yard touchdown. Like most of the starters, his work was done before halftime, which ended with ICCP up 47-0.
Fenton (3-6, 1-4) had no chance after its first two drives unfolded in similar fashion. After two rushing plays lost 5 yards, Kyle Cacioppo's screen pass was intercepted by Saunders, who returned it 15 yards for a score.
On the next possession the Bison again netted minus-5 yards on two rushes before trying the same play. This time the pass was tipped by Robert Vitek before Eatman caught it off and ran it back 15 yards for another score.
"I didn't really think they were going to throw the same play again, but they did," Eatman said. "That was my first interception of the year, so I was pretty happy with it."
The Knights had practiced defending the pass to the flat all week.
"The linebackers coaches got (Eatman) ready for that and he just did a nice job of making a play," ICCP coach Bill Krefft said. "He's always making those plays.
"He's one of the unsung heroes for this team. He's everywhere."
Indeed, Eatman scored three touchdowns in three different ways despite touching the ball only five times.
The 5-foot-10, 165-pound junior also scored on a 36-yard run and a 25-yard pass from backup quarterback C.J. West as time expired in the first half. Eatman finished with 79 yards rushing on 3 carries.
"I give credit to our offensive line," Eatman said. "Without them I wouldn't have had anything."
Star running back Jordan Rowell scored on an 87-yard run and had 5 carries for 99 yards to go with 4 catches for 70 yards. Sean Hipskind added an interception for IC, which held Fenton to 108 yards of offense.