St. Francis off to fast start
Starting the season strong is a key to sustaining the momentum required for a state championship season. In 2008 St. Francis returned the season's opening kickoff for a touchdown and ended up as Class 5A champion.
For the second time in as many years, a Spartan returned the season's first kick for a score at Yorkville Friday night. The 92-yard touchdown scored by returner Kevin Fassnacht with only 15 seconds elapsed keyed a game that started and ended strong for St. Francis (1-0) as they beat the Foxes 35-7.
"It was an awesome feeling to be able to take the opening kick back, but it was my blocking that made it all possible," Fassnacht said.
Following the opening touchdown, Yorkville (0-1) followed up with a dramatic return of its own when Troy Baebler returned the ensuing kick 91 yards for a score. But that return was nullified by a holding penalty, and the Spartans held their opponent in check on its opening drive.
On St. Francis' second possession, the Spartans engineered a 78-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jack Roback to Fassnacht. Then two possessions later the Spartans scored again on a touchdown pass from Roback to tight end Joe Pfeiffer.
St. Francis held their hosts in check for most of the first half, but Yorkville did put together an 87-yard drive culminating in a touchdown pass from Luke Parece to Tony LaMantia, narrowing their deficit to 21-7 at halftime.
In the second half the Spartans scored on successive drives. The first was a 20-yard run by running back Mark Schmitt, then later on an 11-yard run by running back Tony Varygas. At that point St. Francis led 35-7, and coach Greg Purnell spread the ball around. Three quarterbacks took snaps during the game, and no less than 12 ball carriers combined to rush for 303 yards.
"Everyone played a heck of a game," Fassnacht said. "We want to get back to state, but we need to win games first. We took that first step tonight," he added.
Purnell said that he was happy for his players and glad they were able to start the season with a victory.
"But we have plenty of things to work on and need to get more explosive, so we'll be looking at film tomorrow," he said.