Rhode's 8 TD passes help Montini swamp St. Edward

John Rhode didn't take long to make a name for himself.

Starting his first game of the season at quarterback for Montini, Rhode threw 8 touchdown passes, 1 off the IHSA state record set in 1949, as the Broncos looked unstoppable in Friday's 59-14 Suburban Christian Blue victory over St. Edward at Greg True Field in Elgin.

Rhode injured his thumb in the Broncos' preseason scrimmage which forced him out of action until the second half of last week's game.

He quickly made up ground scoring 3 touchdowns in the second half of the Broncos' 33-14 victory over St. Francis and adding 6 scoring passes in the first half Friday night.

"It's really just a dream," Rhode said of his effort, which included going 17 of 21 for 349 yards.

"You never expect to throw that many TDs. I felt we had a good chemistry. With those receivers, anything is possible."

The receiving core started with Nebraska recruit Jordan Westerkamp, who was on the receiving end of 3 scoring passes.

The 6-foot 1-inch Westerkamp scored on a 45-yard bomb on the second play from scrimmage for Montini (5-2, 2-1). St. Edward (4-3, 1-2) could not find an answer as Westerkamp added receptions of 8 and 48 yards.

Joseph Borsellino caught 8 passes for 121 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a score 22 seconds before the end of the first half to extend the Broncos' lead to 45-14 at the half.

"He's one of the best," Montini coach Chris Andriano said. "He has tremendous poise. He's a silent assassin. He's very quiet, but the wheels are always turning. We're a different team with him in there. He's a difference maker and that's why we're as good as we are."

St. Edward was able to make some ground of its own after abandoning the pass and running the ball right at the much larger Montini defense.

Luke Duffy scored a pair of rushing touchdowns in the second quarter on runs of 16 and 4 yards. Duffy finished with half of the Green Wave's 164 yards on the ground in the first half. The success on the ground came after St. Edward was limited to 4 yards on its first 3 offensive series all of which ended in 3-and-outs. "To be able to run the ball on these guys is a ray of hope," Green Wave coach Mike Rolando said. "We were hoping to establish something. We came out and we were awestruck."