Immaculate Conception spoils Wheaton Academy's homecoming
Role reversal is what it was.
Wheaton Academy was supposed to be the quick-strike offense, Immaculate Conception 3 yards and cloud of dust.
Yet in a crazy first half of Saturday's Suburban Christian Conference Gold Division game, each of Wheaton Academy's beautifully devised touchdown drives was answered by a Knights sprint to paydirt.
Without attempting a pass, Immaculate Conception ran for 443 yards to spoil Wheaton Academy's homecoming with a 39-28 win at Wheaton College's McCully Stadium.
"No one gave us a shot today, and we came in and we shocked them. We shocked them," said IC back Connor Hendricks, who ran 18 times for 232 yards and 2 touchdowns. "Their homecoming and everything, we played spoilers, it was awesome."
It was awesome. Wheaton Academy (5-2, 3-1) scored on its first three series -- Kai Libby running it in from 10 yards out and quarterback Tommy Decker hitting Luke Thorson twice for touchdowns -- only to have Immaculate Conception (5-2, 3-1) answer seemingly in seconds flat.
Running option behind IC linemen Coleon Leverson, Robert Rivera, James Peachey, Adalberto Suarez and Kasey Lathrope, Hendricks' 70-yard run set up Jose Godinez's 7-yard touchdown run.
Hendricks broke one 80 yards for a touchdown, and Godinez ran 47 yards to bring IC within 21-19 at 8:32 of the second quarter.
"We were the ones that scored in three plays, so it was quite the opposite of what I was anticipating, that's for sure," said IC coach Mike Alberts.
Wheaton Academy appeared ready to cap another touchdown drive when on second-and-goal from IC's 9-yard line, Joe Iavarone intercepted.
"That was huge," said Wheaton Academy coach Ben Wilson. "We needed to score there, and we didn't. And we didn't stop them."
Knights quarterback Cody Kotlow took an option keeper 80 yards for an IC 25-21 halftime lead. IC had run 12 plays, the Warriors 44.
In the second half the teams rediscovered their usual tendencies. After a scoreless third quarter Wheaton Academy went ahead 28-25 on Tyler Bosse's 11-yard touchdown catch from Decker, who was 29-of-45 passing for 261 yards. Libby had 98 yards on the ground.
The Knights, though, still couldn't be stopped. Hendricks scored on a 22-yard run for the go-ahead score with 6:04 to play, then on defense he defended two bombs to Thorson. IC took over and a 19-yard touchdown run by Godinez, who ran for 94 yards, socked it away.
"It's a loss," Decker said, "but we've got two games left and we're looking ahead now."