The Fenwick football team tuned up for arguably its toughest and most meaningful two-week stretch of the season with a 42-6 rout of Gordon Tech in a Chicago Catholic League crossover game on Friday night.
The host Friars (5-1, 2-0 CCL White) overwhelmed the Rams by scoring all of their points in the first half, including a 28-point spurt in the opening quarter, to set a running clock in the second half and create playing time for their reserves.
In the first quarter, Nick Hall scored on a one-yard run, Bobby Somers found the end zone on a six-yard scamper and junior quarterback Gino Cavalieri (5-for-8, 52 yards) tossed touchdown passes to Robert Spillane (17 yards) and Ryan Smith (12 yards) staking Fenwick to a 28-0 lead.
Spillane (5 carries, 150 yards) scored again on a 24-yard run and Mike Kozyra chipped in a two-yard touchdown run enabling the Friars to extend their advantage to 42-0 with 5:22 remaining until halftime.
Gordon Tech avoided the shutout when Deon Taylor (13 carries, 60 yards) sprinted 29 yards into the end zone at the 10:50 mark of the fourth quarter. A statistical analysis shows Fenwick only outgained the Rams 238 to 175 in total yards, but in reality the Friars dominated the game.
Even the special teams shined as the Friars blocked three punts and kicker Zach Laszkiewicz amassed three touchbacks on kickoffs and six PATs.
Off to a 5-1 start under new head coach Gene Nudo, there is a palpable buzz around the Fenwick football program. The Friars will face their toughest regular season opponent, Loyola, on Saturday (1:30 p.m.) in Wilmette. The Ramblers (5-1), fresh off an impressive 30-27 win over Mount Carmel, feature outstanding quarterback Peter Pujals, running back Julius Holley, and a cadre of skilled wideouts led by two-way standout Luke Ford. The Ramblers’ lone setback occurred early this season against Dallas Jesuit in Dublin, Ireland.
Upholding its end of the hyped up showdown, Fenwick is playing well on a three-game winning streak and has outscored its last two opponents by a combined total of 92-6.
Regardless of their result against the Ramblers, the Friars take on Lake Forest Academy (Saturday, Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m.) at Hoffman Stadium on the Morton West campus.
