R-B offense puts up big numbers against Fenton

Riverside-Brookfield didn't post any rushing yards against Fenton on Friday, but then you can't post rushing yards when you don't run the football even a single time all night.

Instead, the Bulldogs' everyone-is-eligible passing game - spearheaded by quarterback Bill VandeMerkt - posted 517 passing yards in a 63-19 win over the Bison in Bensenville.

"He was on tonight. That was his best game all year," the Bulldogs' Will Lusthoff said of VandeMerkt. Lusthoff had 8 catches for 221 yards and 4 touchdowns on the night, while VendeMerkt finished 31 of 39 for 432 yards and 8 touchdowns.

"He's a good quarterback, they've got a couple good wide receivers, and they block well in space," said Fenton coach Mark Farrell.

"We needed to create pressure immediately, and you have to be able to go tackle in space. We just didn't tackle in space very well tonight, and it seemed like every time they threw the ball deep, we weren't in position to make plays."

With three offensive linemen and everyone else spread out to the sidelines, VandeMerkt and backup quarterback Tyler Wienke connected with 12 different receivers in the Metro Suburban Conference game.

Fenton fell to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in MSC play, while the Bulldogs improved to 4-3 and 4-0 in the conference.

Fenton led 6-0 on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Ricky Prignano to Vince Esposito, but the Bulldogs put up 3 touchdowns and led 21-6 after a quarter.

Fenton running back Tyrell McGee led the Bison with 105 yards on the night, including a 35-yard first-quarter run, and D.J. Anderson ran the ball hard in the third quarter to help set up a 5-yard touchdown run by Andy Dexter.

"D.J.'s a big back and he runs hard, and that's one of the things they were giving us," Farrell said. "But when they started to take that away we tried to get to the edge, we weren't able to do it."

Dexter's run cut the Bulldogs' lead to 21-13, but Riverside-Brookfield scored three more times before halftime to take over the game. Dexter scored again in the third quarter on a 37-yard passing play.

"When we were in position to make plays, our kids didn't go and play the football," Farrell said. "Their kids played the football and made some tough catches. Our kids were with them stride for stride but didn't play the football."