Naperville Central shuts out Waubonsie Valley

Antonio Torres punished his old team from the very start and rewarded his new coach with career victory No. 100 as Naperville Central dominated Waubonsie Valley, 47-0, in a DVC game on Saturday afternoon.

"It's my old school so I had to get them pumped up and we just came out energized," Torres said. "Coming out on the first play and scoring was huge. The excitement was amazing and ever since then there was excitement the whole game everywhere."

Torres took a screen pass from junior quarterback Owen Prucha (10-of-14, 240 yards) on the first offensive play of the season for the Redhawks and turned it into a 55-yard touchdown.

Torres (9 carries, 119 yards), who transferred from Waubonsie Valley over the summer, added a 29-yard touchdown run on Naperville Central's second offensive possession and a 60-yard touchdown run late in the first half as the Redhawks broke the game open early, leading 33-0 at halftime.

"It was a little weird against my school (because) I have a lot of love over there," he said. "But when it comes down to it, you got to handle business and take the 'W.' I made a statement the first game out against the old guys, but you know, it's all love at the end of the day."

The former Warrior wasn't the only one who enjoyed a huge offensive game for the Redhawks as Prucha tossed touchdown passes of 14 yards to Keon Green in the first half and added a 63-yard reception and run to Reggie Fleurima in the second half. Finishing with three touchdown passes in your first varsity game while helping your coach win his 100th game? It can't get much better than that.

"I've been running this game through my head every night for months and I know all the guys have been doing the same," Prucha said. "We were prepared and ready to do what we know we can do, and I think a lot of it is we go against each other with full intensity so every practice is similar to a game so we were used to this."

While the season may be short, the Redhawks' list of offensive weapons is not, while their defense also is impressive with Aidan Ellison, Shane Roth, Patrick Grange and Peter Orlandino leading the way in shutting down the Warriors from doing much of anything.

"Our front seven are really hard to run the ball on," Stine said. "I'm not saying somebody can't run the ball on them, but we have trouble running the ball on them in practice. They're just relentless and we have some great leadership."

The kids have received some great leadership as well from a coach who has been at the school for almost 40 years.

"I've been very blessed to have some really outstanding players and a bunch of great coaches while I've been here," Stine said. "I've been here my whole career. I started in 1984 and to be a part of what I've been a part of, I feel blessed. I love coming to work each and every day."

Olandino and Ty Randle had interceptions while Ellison had an end zone tackle for a safety and kicked a 30-yard field goal.

"He's a football player," Stine said. "That kid kicks the ball really well."

The Redhawks seemed to do everything well, despite having not played in 513 days.