Fenwick 47
Hales 7
Bruised and battered in the Catholic League Blue Division over the last few weeks, the Fenwick football team became the aggressors in a league crossover game against Hales Franciscan on Saturday afternoon. The Friars upended the Spartans 47-7 on Parent’s Day at Morton West High School in Berwyn.
Fenwick’s motto of punching in and punching out played true to form as the Friars scored seven touchdowns on their first 19 plays of the game. By the end of the first quarter, Fenwick held a 34-0 lead. By intermission, the Friars forced a running clock for the second half with a 47-0 advantage.
“This was an important emotional victory for us,” said Fenwick head coach Joe DiCanio. “We really needed this. Everyone came to play and came to take care of business from the start, and that’s what they did.”
Phil Gough scored three touchdowns for the Friars, while Bret Strzelczyk and Eric Hulihan combined for the other four with two apiece. Gough caught a 38-yard touchdown pass from Joe Romano to open the scoring. He also scored on runs of 15 yards and a yard.
Strzelczyk scored on a run from six yards out in the first, and, less than a minute later, found the end zone again from 18 yards out. Hulihan rushed for 55 yards in the first half, including both his touchdowns of one yard and 28 yards.
The Friars racked up a total of 347 yards of offense on the day, while Hales finished with 133.
The Friars, who have yet to post a win against a Blue Division opponent, will try to close out the regular season on a high note when they travel to Brother Rice on Friday night (7:30 p.m.). The Crusaders, who Fenwick is likely to see in the first round of the Prep Bowl playoffs, are also currently winless in the division this season.
“This is their chance to go out on a high note,” said DiCanio of his team. “A Blue Division victory is something the seniors can live off of for a long time. But, again, it’s another road game for us against a Blue Division opponent. Hopefully, we can come away with a satisfying result.”
