Driscoll 25, Lisle 0-Matt Pawlak scored three third-quarter touchdowns for the Highlanders (8-2). The defending Class 3A champions never allowed Lisle (8-2) inside their 39-yard line.
Driscoll averaged 7.7 yards per rush for 347 yards behind Pawlak (17 carries, 139 yards) and Mark Kopulos (20 carries, 158 yards). Pawlak scored on runs of 46, 9 and 6 yards. Kopulos scored on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter.
The Highlanders were inside Lisle`s 10 three times in the first half, but two fumbles and a sack killed the drives.
”Late in the first half, we saw that we could run off tackle and we came out with two options in the second half,” said Driscoll coach Larry Orrico.
”If they adjusted to the off-tackle, we`d go outside. But our offense line did a great job.”
”They beat the heck out of us the second half,” said Lisle coach Van Gollan. ”We played tough defense for one half, but they`re a very good team.”
Nazareth 19, Marmion 15-Pat Keenan (16 of 21, 152 yards) hit Jon Steinbach with a 14-yard touchdown pass with 43 seconds to play, lifting Nazareth (9-1) to its eighth straight victory. Marmion (6-4) led 15-0 at halftime.
”I told the guys at the half we just had to stick to our game plan,”
said Nazareth coach Dennis Moran. ”They only scored once on our defense. I told them we just had to stop making mistakes. I never lost confidence in my quarterback. I felt we had the edge with our height advantage (Steinbach is 6-2) against shorter cornerbacks.”
Nazareth began its comeback on a 4-yard run by Bart Cason (33 carries, 143 yards) with 1:50 left in the second half. In the third quarter, Cason scored on another 4-yard run. Marmion scored on Robert Flores` 25-yard run and B.J. Bellafiore`s 100-yard interception return.
CLASS 2A
Richmond-Burton 8, Stillman Valley 6-Frank Pauley`s 1-yard run and Jeff Christensen`s conversion run lifted the Rockets (7-3) to the home victory. The score was set up by B.G. Hunter`s fumble recovery at the Stillman Valley 17. The scoring drive was kept alive when Christensen gained 9 yards on third and 8.
Eric Rasmussen`s tackle stopped Stillman Valley on fourth and 1 with 1:25 left. Stillman Valley took a 6-0 lead on Tim Boyd`s 20-yard pass from David Larson in the second quarter.
