Football roundup: West Aurora, Wheaton Academy, Dundee-Crown, Kaneland earn wins

West Aurora (4-2, 4-0) set up a first-place showdown in the Upstate Eight West with South Elgin next week with Friday night’s 49-6 victory over Larkin (0-6, 0-3) in Aurora.

Senior tailback Bryce Riley carried the ball 11 times for 42 yards and three touchdowns for the Blackhawks, while senior quarterback Tyler Fecht completed 6 of 7 passes for 92 yards with a touchdown pass to junior receiver Eli Browning (two catches, 41 yards).

Defensively, senior Braden Fraus returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown and added a pick-six for the winners, while junior defensive back Devin Farmer added an interception. Senior defensive end Brendon Salach recorded two of the team’s four sacks, while junior defensive back Carlos Rivera had a team-high seven tackles.

Larkin avoided the shutout on Brian Watson’s four-yard touchdown pass to Kamryn Bartee in the fourth quarter.

Wheaton Academy 35, Hope Academy 8: Quarterback Colton Miller and running back Ethan Brooks each rushed for a pair of touchdowns to lead the Warriors to the Chicagoland Christian victory in Chicago. With the win Wheaton Academy improved to 6-0 overall for the first time since 1957. Clinging to a 14-8 halftime lead, the Warriors broke the game open with 21 unanswered second-half points.

Dundee-Crown 28, Crystal Lake South 14: Senior quarterback Isaac Grzynkowicz ran for three touchdowns and passed for another during the Chargers’ Fox Valley Conference victory over the Gators (2-4, 2-4) in Carpentersville. Grzynkowicz, who carried the ball 24 times for 176 yards, had touchdown runs of four, two and 10 yards, while also connecting with Terrance Powell for a 15-yard touchdown pass. Tyrese Lemon added 103 yards of total offense, including 80 on the ground, while catching three passes for Dundee-Crown.

Kaneland 28, Rochelle 20: Kaneland (5-1, 2-1) rallied from a 14-0 halftime deficit to defeat Interstate Eight foe Rochelle (3-3, 1-2) in Rochelle. Quarterback Brody Guthrie connected with senior receiver Nolan Claeson for an 80-yard pass on the opening play from scrimmage in the second half to set up Colton Ludwig’s two-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 14-7. Following a three-and-out defensive series, the Knights pulled within 14-13 on Guthrie’s 72-yard scoring pass to Colton Van Dyke early in the third quarter. Jackson Little’s four-yard touchdown run and Cooper Stombres’ successful two-point conversion run gave Kaneland its first lead at 21-14. With 6:29 remaining, Van Dyke scored on a 21-yard run to extend the margin to 28-20 before Mikey Spallasso sealed the victory with an interception in the final two minutes.

IC Catholic Prep 28, St. Laurence 12: Anthony Carroccio returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown and helped set up another score with a fumble recovery during the Knights’ CCL White victory over St. Laurence (1-5, 0-2) in Burbank. Sophomore Jakobe Baldwin’s 40-yard run set up his one-yard touchdown run to give the Knights (6-0, 2-0) a 6-0 lead. Carroccio’s pick-six and Baldwin’s two-point conversion run made it 14-0 at halftime. Senior quarterback Nate Lang tossed a five-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Penna and added a 15-yard touchdown run, extending the margin to 28-0 before St. Laurence added a pair of fourth-quarter scores.

Neuqua Valley 21, DeKalb 20: Senior Conor McCarty’s 28-yard touchdown run with five minutes remaining helped lift the Wildcats (3-3, 2-1) to a DuPage Valley Conference road win over DeKalb (1-5, 0-3). Freddie Rook’s point-after kick gave the Wildcats a one-point lead, and Will Kalish’s interception a few moments later sealed the decision. McCarty opened the scoring with a first-quarter touchdown run, while quarterback Ben Travis’ touchdown pass to Kalish accounted for the Wildcats’ second score. Wildcats coach Bill Ellinghaus reached a milestone with his 100th victory. Ellinghaus, in his 15th season at the helm, owns a 100-48 mark.

Glenbard South 43, Fenton 20: The Raiders improved to 4-2 overall, 3-1 in Upstate Eight East play with a victory over the Bison (2-4, 0-3) in Glen Ellyn. Quarterback Tommy Bauman tossed a 34-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring for Glenbard South. Following a short-yardage touchdown run by Elijah Donahue, Bauman connected with Anthony Baldauf on a 16-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-0. Junior 6-foot, 240-pound lineman Micah Foster provided a highlight with a one-yard touchdown run in the first half.

Glenbard East 55, Ridgewood 14: Sophomore quarterback Carter Pohlman and backup Connor Lacount each passed for a pair of touchdowns during the Rams’ Upstate Eight East victory. Mishun Williams carried the ball nine times for 86 yards and two touchdowns, while sophomore Diamond Chew added a pair of touchdowns. Mason Wright also scored for the Rams (4-2, 4-0).

South Elgin 48, Streamwood 0: Senior quarterback Carter McDonald tossed a pair of early touchdown passes during South Elgin’s Upstate Eight West victory over Streamwood (2-4, 0-3) in South Elgin. While extending their winning streak to four, the Storm (5-1, 4-0) maintain a share of first place in the UEC West heading into next weekend’s homefield showdown against West Aurora (4-2, 4-0).

Westmont 32, Walther Christian 8: Junior quarterback Trevor Robertson scored two early touchdowns and added a pair of two-point conversion runs during the Sentinels’ victory over Walther Christian in Westmont. Charles Steketee blocked a punt to help set up Westmont’s first score, while freshman Gavin Robertson provided a defensive highlight with an interception. Westmont is 4-0.

East Aurora 25, Bartlett 21: The Hawks’ hopes for their first win of the season were dashed on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Joseph Becker with 2:11 remaining during the Tomcats’ come-from-behind Upstate Eight West victory in Bartlett. Bartlett grabbed a 7-0 lead on sophomore quarterback Parker Mulhall’s two-yard keeper and extended the margin to 14-6 on Mulhall’s five-yard flip touchdown pass to Jake Marchese.

Aurora Christian 34, Christ the King 16: Trailing 16-14 at halftime, the Eagles (5-1, 3-1) responded with 20 unanswered second-half points during their Chicagoland Christian triumph over Christ the King (1-5, 0-4) in Chicago. Jalen Callaway had three touchdown runs for Aurora Christian, while the defense recorded a pair of second-half interceptions, including a pick-six.

Downers Grove North 41, Oak Park-River Forest 0: Grant Georgas ran for 250 yards and three touchdowns, and the defense recorded its second straight shutout during the Trojans’ West Suburban Silver victory. Georgas’ touchdowns covered 11, 46 and 64 yards, on just 15 carries, as the Trojans improved to 6-0, 4-0.

Downers Grove South 50, Proviso East 15: Junior quarterback James Sobkowiak threw three touchdown passes, two of them to senior running back Forest Bates, during the Mustangs’ West Suburban Gold victory in Downers Grove. Nate Thurston, who added an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, caught the third touchdown pass from Sobkowiak. The win sets up a showdown between WSC Gold unbeatens, as Downers Grove South hosts Hinsdale South on Friday night.