Coming into the season, Rich East coach Bob Lombardi knew what to expect out of his offense. With left-handed Division I prospect Walter Young throwing the ball, who wouldn’t?
But who knew what to expect out of John White?
Playing in just his second varsity game, the 6-foot-3-inch senior tailback ran for touchdowns of 7, 23 and 60 yards Saturday in the Rockets’ 49-26 victory over Tinley Park (1-1) in Park Forest.
“We do expect to move the football and put points on the board,” said Lombardi, whose 2-0 team has scored 83 points in two games. “Offense is very exciting at our place. Our kids expect to score.”
White, who transferred from Marian Catholic, where he had played freshman football, concentrated solely on basketball his sophomore and junior years at Rich East.
“We don’t try to pressure kids into playing,” Lombardi said. “We do have pretty good tradition, and I think it finally got to him.”
The Rockets, who led 42-7 at the half, got on the board early when Richard McNutt picked off a Tinley Park pass and ran 48 yards for the touchdown. A 60-yard TD pass from Young to Maurice Williams, White’s two touchdown runs and a 2-yard plunge by McNutt completed the first-half barrage.
Mt. Carmel 51, St. Francis de Sales 8: No. 6 Mt. Carmel led 44-0 at the half and crushed the Pioneers (0-2) for the second straight year. Adam Cushing, Vinnie Menconi, Jim Smith, Steve Furtek, Rito Balducci, Joe Gildein and Chris Cavallini all scored touchdowns for the Caravan (2-0).
Marian Catholic 51, Weber 0: No. 7 Marian (2-0) rolled as Phil Wail (7 for 13, 176 yards) threw three first-half touchdown passes to Eric Middleton.
Bishop McNamara 49, De La Salle 0: Ryan Magruder completed nine of 15 passes for 195 yards and three touchdowns and Johnny Short added 142 rushing yards as No. 13 Bishop McNamara (2-0) rolled.
Sandburg 33, Lane Tech 8: Senior Brian Corcoran rushed for 186 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns and hauled in a 22-yard pass for a third as the No. 14 Eagles pounded Lane (0-2). Corcoran, held out from last week’s season-opening rout of Lyons Township while still suffering from the effects of a concussion, filled in ably for that game’s hero, John Cirranto, out this week because of illness.
Lane led 8-6 early with Randy Williams (six carries, 116 yards) sweeping left for an 86-yard TD.
Loyola 14, St. Viator 0: It was another tough day for St. Viator (0-2) and QB Jarrett Payton, limited to 37 yards passing and 20 yards rushing by No. 15 Loyola (2-0). Salvatore Dimmuci scored for Loyola on a 26-yard run, and a 15-yard pass from Josh Dunn to Matthew Cherry accounted for the other TD.
Maine South 31, Glenbrook South 7: Dino Gardiakos rushed for 139 of his 195 yards in the second half as No. 17 Maine South broke open a 9-0 game with 22 second-half points.
Downers Grove South 24, Glenbard West 10: Matt Marek scored two touchdowns and came up with an interception to lead the 18th-ranked Mustangs (2-0). Marcus Moore led Downers with 136 yards rushing and a 69-yard TD reception from Jason Hogrefe.
Thornton 53, Morgan Park 0: Larry Moore (six carries, 94 yards) ran for two touchdowns, Kevin Lee returned an interception 52 yards for a TD and Kevin Glenn recovered a fumble and ran 15 yards for a score as No. 19 Thornton (2-0) romped.
Brother Rice 35, St. Joseph 0: Led by Jack Winters (17 tackles) and Ryan Muldoon (11 tackles), Brother Rice (2-0) held St. Joseph to 90 yards of offense. David Williams (113 yards rushing) and Kevin Badke (122 yards passing) accounted for four Crusader TDs.
Kelly 43, Gage Park 18: Stan Peat rushed for 239 yards and scored four touchdowns to lead Kelly (2-0).
Leyden 20, Proviso West 6: Steve Shragal kicked field goals of 31 and 33 yards and Jon Kowalyshen had two sacks and blocked a punt to lead Leyden (1-1).
Manley 42, Spalding 20: Ricardo Morrison’s two first-quarter touchdowns, covering 47 and 50 yards, keyed a 30-point opening quarter for Manley (2-0) as first-year coach Greg McClain notched his first on-field victory. Last week, Manley’s opponent forfeited. Morrison finished with 215 yards and three TDs on 16 carries.
New Trier 43, Highland Park 8: New Trier (1-1) picked up its first victory as Mark Tapley completed 10 of 11 passes for 246 yards, including three first-half TD passes.
Oak Park 12, Hinsdale South 0: Talmadge Hill threw for 127 yards and two touchdowns, and Dexter Martin led a stingy defense for Oak Park (1-1) with 12 tackles.
Ridgewood 38, Geneva 13: Brian Rzewnicky rushed for 195 yards and two touchdowns as Ridgewood improved to 2-0.
St. Rita 28, Leo 0: Tim Phelan threw for 197 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Mustangs (1-1).
Walther Lutheran 39, Huntley 14: Patrick Walters (20 carries) rushed for 210 yards and TDs of 33 and 40 yards to lead Walther Lutheran (2-0)..
