Fenton 33
RB       22

By averaging 37 points after three games this season, it’s pretty obvious the Riverside-Brookfield football team can light up the scoreboard. But Fenton never gave the potent Bulldogs’ offense that chance on Friday, instead handing RB a 33-22 loss.

Fenton dominated time of possession (34:29-13:31) and out-rushed the Bulldogs 288-16 to pull the upset victory over the defending Metro Suburban Conference champs in Bensenville.

“Fenton did a great job holding the ball,” RB coach Otto Zeman said. “We have to try to stop making mistakes. I think we can do a better job blocking, and we just didn’t score enough when we had opportunities.”

Trailing 7-0 in the second quarter, the Bulldogs (1-3, 0-1) scored on quarterback Billy VandeMerkt’s 1-yard touchdown run. Fenton responded with a score to build the lead to 13-6, but Watoris Slater returned a kickoff 94 yards into the end zone. VandeMerkt threw a successful two-point conversion pass to Mark McDonagh to give RB a 14-13 lead with 1:09 remaining until halftime.

In the third quarter, VandeMerkt tossed a 26-yard touchdown pass to the explosive Slater and then completed another two-point conversion to McDonagh. However, the fourth quarter was all Fenton as the Bison scored the game’s final 14 points in clinching the 33-22 victory.

VandeMerkt finished the game 20-of-34 for 196 yards. He had one touchdown and two interceptions. His favorite target, McDonagh, turned in another monster performance with 15 catches for 155 yards. On the season, the senior wideout has 69 catches for 740 yards, including a state record 20 receptions in one game.

Defensively, senior linebacker Louie Dietz led RB with 12 tackles, while senior defensive back Brandon Cook and promising 6-foot-1, 225-pound sophomore linebacker Andy Suzuki added six tackles apiece.

Focused on controlling the clock, the Bison used their tandem running attack of Tyrell McGee (24 carries, 115 yards) and quarterback Eric Justiniano (10 carries, 70 yards) to wear down the RB defense. Justiniano played a part in all five Fenton scores, throwing a pair of touchdown passes and running for three more.

The Bulldogs, fresh off routing tough non-conference opponent Robeson 65-26 in Week 3, viewed the Fenton setback as both surprising and motivating.

“We have to rebuild,” VandeMerkt said. “We have a lot of stuff to work on. It’s important that we come out with some confidence and get things going early this week [against Elmwood Park].”

The Bulldogs visit Elmwood Park on Friday (7 p.m.).