Auxier scores three touchdowns in Burlington Central win against Crystal Lake South
Final score: Burlington Central 41, Crystal Lake South 7.
Records: The Rockets improve to 2-0, 2-0 in the Fox Valley Conference, while the Gators drop to 1-1, 1-1.
Player of the game: Parker Auxier rushed for three touchdowns for the Rockets. The senior, a Division I lacrosse recruit, ran for 92 yards on 8 carries, scoring on runs of five, four and 25 yards. His punt return to the Gators’ 22-yard line set the Rockets up for their first score, and he paid it off three plays later.
Other statistical leaders: Rockets quarterback Reece Beemer completed 8 of 10 passes for 92 yards, finding six receivers in the process. His counterpart, Michael Silvius, connected on 12 of 20 for 101. Hector Del Bosque led the Gators’ rushing attack with 44 yards on 10 attempts.
Turning point: With Burlington Central clinging to a 14-0 lead and the Gators driving deep into Rockets territory, Noah Rudden picked off Silvius, who was hit as he threw, and returned it 15 yards. The Rockets then drove 72 yards, capped by Landen Lee’s one-yard scoring run. Burlington Central scored three more times in the third quarter to break the game wide open.
First-half highlights: In addition to the three rushing touchdowns, the defense pitched a shutout, forcing 2 punts, the interception and a turnover on downs.
Second-half highlights: Ben Atieh returned a Gators punt 70 yards for a touchdown, weaving through the coverage before breaking free. The touchdown was the second of the Rockets’ three long scoring plays in less than seven minutes in the third quarter. Auxier scored for the third time on a 25-yard run and Jordan Coombs scored on a 26-yard catch and run from Beemer. The Gators finally got on the scoreboard on an 11-yard Tarell Hall run.
X-factor: The Rockets’ offensive line, which had to replace all five starters from a year ago, paved the way for Auxier and company. The starters of Landon Ayala, Andrew Peterson, Reece Parinello and Asher Parinello, opened holes for the Rockets rushers to pile up 178 yards and 4 TDs.
Quotes: “(Coach Brian Iossi) always tells me to pick up the ball on the ground for punt returns,” Auxier said. “I knew I could make a play with that and especially on a punt return there’s a good chance to make a play, so I had to take my opportunity.”
“I think this is what we’re capable of,” Iossi said. “We knew that coming into this week. We just executed a lot better. We got our run game going, which was huge.”