St. Francis breaks out in a big way

Wheaton Academy's dream for an unbeaten season imploded Friday night in Wheaton.

St. Francis' Bob Miller rushed for 134 yards and 5 touchdowns while the Spartans tallied 419 total yards in a 40-23 Suburban Christian Conference crossover rout at Wheaton College. St. Francis rolled the Warriors for 337 yards on the ground while Miller accounted for 5 of the 6 Spartans touchdowns.

"Our kids really had a gut check tonight," St. Francis coach Greg Purnell. "I'm just really happy for our kids. We had two weeks where we didn't play well, and I'm really proud of them tonight."

Despite senior running back Kai Libby's 3 touchdown runs, the Warriors struggled to convert on chances throughout the game. Wheaton Academy was hurt by three failed attempts to score on the 1-yard line early in the second quarter.

"The game should have been tied at the half," Wilson said. "The turning point for us was not getting it in on the 1- inch line."

"That stand was huge," Purnell said. The Spartans opened the scoring with a brisk 6-play, 63-yard drive that resulted in a Miller 1-yard touchdown plunge. St. Francis scored on its next possession, this time through the air.

Wheaton Academy had a chance to score early in the second quarter but failed three times at the Spartans' 1-yard line. St. Francis answered with a drive that suffered five penalties, two of which canceled first downs. The ensuing punt gave Wheaton Academy great field position at the Spartans' 25. The Warriors (4-1) responded with a 3-play, 25-yard drive that cut the lead to 14-7.

"We self-destructed there with the five penalties," Purnell said.

St. Francis (3-2) turned a missed field goal into 6 points courtesy of a running-into-the-kicker penalty by Wheaton Academy. Miller punched in his second touchdown of the game and the Spartans went into the half with a 20-7 lead.

Miller ripped off his third touchdown on the game with a 1-yard plunge midway through the third quarter. He added his fourth on another 1-yard run, and the Spartans were well in control near the end of the third quarter. He notched one more in the fourth quarter.

Miller was quick to credit his linemen for his successes.

"Every day is about improvement," Miller said. "Those linemen were opening up huge holes, and I have great lead blocks. That's all I really have to do to get I there.

"Hats off to Miller," Wilson said. "The kid's a heck of a player. He wanted it more than any of our guys."