DuPage handles Harper in season opener

Harper's 40th season began like its first season in 1971 - a game in Glen Ellyn against College of DuPage.

But there were three differences. First, that game was played at North Central College in Naperville.

Second, this game was the first-ever home night game on the COD campus.

And third, current COD offensive line coach John Eliasik was Harper's head coach way back in the Hawks' debut season.

One thing that remained the same from that first game was that Harper lost.

Behind a 21-point third quarter outburst, COD (1-1 overall and Midwest Football Conference play) shut out the Hawks in their season opener 35-0 at Bob MacDougal field Saturday night.

Chaparrals quarterback Cole Lanham (18-24-245 yards) tossed the first of his 3 TD passes to Bryant Venson (24 yards) to get the scoring going in the first quarter to give COD a 7-0 lead it would take into halftime.

In the third period, the hosts put the game on ice as two more Lanham TD passes to Malcolm Jackson (3 yards) and James Kurtz (25 yards) coupled with a 53-yard interception return by Jalen Spates expanded the home team's advantage to 28-0 at the end of the third.

Venson, who had a combined 114 yards rushing and receiving, closed out the scoring with a 4 yard TD run to close the scoring.

Harper was outgained 378-166 in total offense. Sophomore QB Stuart Augustine was 13-for-28 passing for 123 yards and an interception.

Harper opens its home schedule next Sunday when it hosts the Wisconsin-Whitewater JV at 1 p.m.