Miller saves St. Francis just in time

With its skill players' athleticism negated by the field conditions, St. Francis' football squad had to improvise.

The Spartans found the right weapon behind back Bob Miller. The junior raced 38 yards on the third play of the fourth quarter for the lone second-half score as St. Francis overcame a resilient Aurora Central Catholic squad in Suburban Christian Conference Blue play Friday night.

With its 14-7 victory in Aurora, the defending Class 5A champion concluded regular-season play at 7-2 overall and 2-2 in the league. Aurora Central closed out its campaign at 1-8, 0-4.

"Because of the mud, we had to keep it between the tackles," Miller said after a workhorse effort that netted 232 yards on 34 time-consuming carries. "The (offensive) line just kept the momentum the whole game. We were consistently gaining yards on every play."

St. Francis' interior linemen, which features John Giovenco, Ryan Spatz, Nick Pfeiffer, Joe Pfeiffer, Russ Kalfas and Wes Herwaldt, were the difference down the stretch. Complemented by an equally stingy defense that limited Aurora Central to 11 plays from scrimmage in the second half, the Spartans willed their way to victory over the last eight minutes and change.

Beginning at its own 16-yard line and nursing the one-score lead, St. Francis never relinquished the ball again; Miller carried 10 times for 49 yards on the drive as the team ran out of the clock to preserve its victory.

"We figured we were going to get the ball back," said Aurora Central coach Mike Curry. "(The state of the field) was obviously to our advantage."

"In a game like this, it's even (due to the field conditions)," said St. Francis coach Greg Purnell. "I don't care what the records are. (ACC) played very well. I'm going to give my kids credit, too, for coming back."

Aurora Central dominated the first quarter, not only scoring on its opening drive - Andrew Scott crashed in from a yard out one play after Alex Schaefer burst free for 54 yards - but also limiting St. Francis to three offensive plays.

St. Francis' defense was tighter than a convention of misers for the rest of the way, however. Spearheaded by inside linebackers Nick Pfeiffer and Colin Marshall as well as defensive back Tony Varygas, the Spartans' defensive unit allowed a lone first down over the last three quarters.

St. Francis tied the game at 7-7 late in the second quarter; Miller carried the ball all but one time in the 8-play, 65-yard march that he culminated with a 4-yard burst off guard.

St. Francis dodged a pair of bullets with lost fumbles, but Miller burned the error-free Chargers with the game-winner with 11:10 remaining.

"I did not even get touched," Miller said of his 38-yard romp.