Nice start for Garoppolo, Meadows

Rolling Meadows quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo could not have asked for a better opening game.

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound junior quarterback scored 1 touchdown and passed for two others in a 41-28 victory over visiting Hinsdale South on Friday night.

"Our offensive line came out and created big holes for me," Garoppolo said.

"It was easy when you get blocking like that. I was excited about the start. Things went perfectly."

Garoppolo drove the 1-0 Mustangs down the field on a nifty eight-play, 80-yard drive following the kickoff for a 7-0 lead. Steve Orchell caught a 6-yard pass from Garoppolo (10-for-14, 132 yards, 1 INT) with 8:48 left in the first quarter.

Garoppolo (12 carries, 101 yds.) finished the Mustangs' second drive with a 28-yard run with 11:19 left in the half, to cap a 65-yard, seven-play drive and a 14-0 lead.

"We put pressure on their defense to start the game," Meadows coach Doug Millsaps said. "I thought our tempo was good and we wore them down. It was nice to come out after two weeks of practice and have things go your way."

Meadows put the game away in the third quarter with a pair of touchdowns runs of 3 and 2 yards by Daquan Edwards (14 carries, 76 yards). Rustit Hallam added some punch with a 46-yard burst for a 34-0 lead.

Mick Viken later scored on an 18-yard pass from Garoppolo.

The Hornets (0-1) saw Karl Ploger return a kickoff 79 yards. Jon Sterling scored from the 2, quarterback Rob Christensen tallied from the 1 and threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Rob Folkerts.