Aurora Christian can't keep up with St. Laurence
St. Laurence came to Aurora Christian Friday night for the Chicago Catholic White matchup already with a pair of 70-point games this season.
The Eagles knew they were going to need score a lot to try to keep pace, and sophomore quarterback Drew Clippert was up to the challenge, throwing the ball 50 times while tossing touchdowns to 4 different receivers.
The Vikings, however, nearly scored 70 again. Their quarterback, Alex Martinez, playing with a heavy heart after his father passed away Thursday, threw for 3 touchdowns and ran for another in a 63-24 victory.
St. Laurence (5-2, 3-0) ran for 343 yards, led by Fayezon Smart's 220, and threw for 225 more for nearly 600 yards of offense. The Vikings led 21-6 after one quarter and 35-6 at halftime.
Before the game the teams met at midfield for a prayer for Martinez, whose 48-year-old father Rich died unexpectedly the day before.
"I thought it was a very class move by coach (David) Beebe," Vikings coach Harold Blackmon said. "We all grieve for Alex. We know the next few days are going to be rough. I know all of us will be here supporting him."
Martinez completed 13 of 16 passes for 218 yards and ran for another touchdown.
"As soon as I heard the news I had people telling me I shouldn't play, you should be with your family, and he would not have wanted me to do that," Martinez said. "If I even thought about not playing he would not like that at all."
It was the fourth straight loss for Aurora Christian (3-4, 0-3) who will need to beat Marmion and Leo the final two weeks to get to become playoff eligible.
"They attacked us very well," said Eagles senior two-way standout Jeremiah Wright. "They changed up their offensive schemes a little from what it usually is. They had some looks we did not see on film we've watched on them. It was difficult at times."
Clippert, who finished 32 of 50 passing for 292 yards, threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Devan Cross to cut the Vikings' lead to 14-6 with 4:42 left in the first quarter. The Eagles missed all 4 of their 2-point conversions, and St. Laurence scored 21 unanswered points to end the first half with a commanding lead.
Clippert tossed touchdown passes to Wright, Brock Harner and Dylan Leschewski in the second half. Even with several second-stringers, the Vikings scored 4 second-half touchdowns of their own.
Leschewski caught 11 passes for 96 yards, and Wright hauled in 9 passes for 67 yards while also rushing for 48.
"Second half we moved the ball very well. We did a good job of executing more than we did in the first half," Wright said. "We have to get the next two wins."