It is always a treat when the best high school teams get a chance to compete at the biggest football stadium in the city. Football fans were treated to a trio of preps football games Sunday as the Kickoff Classic brought renewed rivalries and anticipated match-ups to Soldier Field.
In the first game of the day, St. Patrick squared up to the St. Rita Mustangs. The Shamrocks survived a Mustangs comeback late to win 47-44. St. Pat's QB Anthony Mazzenga put up huge numbers on big plays as he tossed for 375 yards and six touchdowns. The senior completed 28 of 41 passes and four of his six TDs went to Andrew Edgar (8-for-146 yards). St. Rita signal-caller Jake Zylman threw for 206 yards and four touchdowns for the Mustangs.
The second game of the triple-header, Mt. Carmel mauled the Taft Eagles 49-7. Caravan QB Dan Trudeau made only four pass attempts, but connected on three for 112 yards and two touchdowns. In the backfield, RB Jake Moriarty rushed for 83 yards on nine rushes for Mount Carmel.
The Eagles scored on the last play of the game, as the clock expired, and their fans erupted. There wasn't much hope that Taft would score the upset over the Caravan, but fans saw a hard-working team triumph for a moment of glory. It was a satisfying play Taft's student-athletes will remember.
In the final game, Brother Rice defeated Marist 31-7. Top receiver prospect Ricky Smalling began his season on a big game. The Illini recruit caught five balls for 110 yards and two scores. The wideout scored his first touchdown on the second play from scrimmage on a bubble screen for 56-yards.
Marist's offense couldn't keep up with the Crusaders' potent offensive attack, and ultimately succumbed to the pressure of playing "keep up" football. The RedHawks have a good defense but it'll take all of its stars playing well, in unison, to succeed against top-tier offenses.
Here are other scores from around the city in Week 1:
Mt. Carmel 42, Harrisburg 0
Notre Dame 29, Harvey Thornton 13
Chicago Sullivan 40, Guerin 0
Douglass 20, Kelly 6
East St. Louis 34, Providence 3
John Burroughs, Mo. 44, Lake Forest Academy 14
Kenwood 25, Blue Island Eisenhower 8
Maine East 16, Schurz 13
Maine West 14, Proviso East 0
Maria 40, Little Village 26
Mather 42, Noble/DRW Trading 8
Moweaqua Central A&M 34, Areola 14
Payton 42, Chicago (Noble Street Charter/Comer) 6
Prosser 8, Chicago North Grand 0
Quincy Notre Dame 35, Hannibal, Mo. 14
Rich East 46, North Lawndale 0
Rochelle 53, Corliss 0
Steinmetz def. Morgan Park, forfeit
Waterloo 28, Herrin 18
Westinghouse 22, Whitney Young 6
