McHenry deals D-C another loss

If McHenry's 42-20 Fox Valley Conference Valley Division win over Dundee-Crown was the most important stat in the record books, then at the very least the Warriors could celebrate their homecoming on good terms.

However, while the mud piled up on the field heavily, so too did the game's overall stats.

Dundee-Crown (1-5, 0-2) and McHenry (3-3, 2-0) combined for 26 penalties that resulted in 197 yards. They also compiled 7 turnovers, 4 from Dundee-Crown (2 fumbles, 2 interceptions) and 3 interceptions by McHenry. If that wasn't enough, Dundee-Crown amassed 291 yards, while McHenry accounted for 473 for a grand total of 764 total yards.

But a win is a win, and it was badly needed for McHenry, which now now sits at 3-3 and needs to win 2 of 3 down the stretch to become playoff eligible.

"It definitely boosted our morale, and we're going to go into next week fighting just as hard to beat Cary-Grove," said McHenry running and defensive back Nico DeLorenzo, who had 2 picks, with 52 yards rushing, 34 yards receiving, and a 7-yard touchdown run that put McHenry up 7-0 with 2:55 left in the first quarter.

"Every game is a must-win. We come out here every day with a never back down attitude. We may be small, but we have the heart of champions so we're never going to stop pushing," DeLorenzo said.

And pushing was right. DeLorenzo, and his counterpart, Jake Howe, (130 yards rushing) were frequently running the ball successfully against the Chargers in the first half, and it set up the pass for quarterback Thomas Rose, who threw for 3 first-half touchdowns, giving McHenry a 28-0 lead at the half. Rose, who was 26 of 38 passing for 285 yards, threw touchdowns to wide receiver Trevor Marunde on passes of 5 and 7, and to Corey Szamlewski (7 catches, 61 yards) for 18 yards.

Rose added 2 more touchdowns, another to Marunde in the fourth quarter from 2 yards, and another to DeLorenzo for 32 yards. The only downside to Rose's day was 3 interceptions.

"Thomas threw the perfect ball every time, Thomas made it all happen. And the offensive line did a great job of blocking," Marunde said.

Dundee-Crown, whose losign streak reach 5 in a row, busted open the pass for 201 yards. Tanner Kotlan passed for 2 touchdowns, both to Steve Schwartz, on passes of 25 and 6. Miles Adkins added a score in the early stages of the second half from 2 yards out to put the Chargers on the board.