Lyons Township High School senior wide receiver Travis Stamm returned to football action Friday with a new look. He cut the hair hanging beyond the back of his helmet.
“This helmet’s a large. The other one was an XL and the hair didn’t fit no more,” Stamm said. “And it gets hot.”
Stamm also brought his same old dependable catching style. The fourth-year varsity player and Illinois State recruit became the Lions’ all-time leading receiver during their 30-22 victory at Wheaton Warrenville South (WWS). He had five catches for 45 yards and one touchdown in breaking the record of 109 career receptions by 2017 graduate Brandon Fischer.
Fittingly, Stamm’s record breaker was his first TD of the season, an 11-yarder from senior quarterback and longtime friend Dom Pisciotti, the first of three LTHS second-quarter TDs for a 21-7 halftime lead.
“That might be one of my favorite touchdowns. That’s a special one,” Stamm said.
“He’s an exceptional person, an exceptional player,” LTHS coach Jon Beutjer said. “That’s a testament to him and all of his hard work. And more catches to come.”
Stamm now has 111 career receptions that cover 1,545 yards with 22 TDs.
“[The record is] a testament to what we’ve been able to do here for multiple years,” Stamm said. “Thanks to getting the ball, great scheming, everyone around me, it’s a testament to everyone else.”
Pisciotti, a backup last season, also recorded his first two varsity TD passes in finishing 11-for-20 passing for 132 yards.
“[The record catch] was fun. I liked my matchup against Travis, really against anyone,” Pisciotti said. “He just caught the ball and drove in with two guys on him.”
Senior Julian Padilla completed a 40-yard TD pass play by breaking a tackle near the line of scrimmage and scurrying down the right sideline. Senior Danny Carroll, (205 yards on 27 carries) scored on a 31-yard run 3:08 before halftime for a 21-0 lead.
“Honestly, that’s the new normal for [Padilla],” Pisciotti said.
In the second half, senior AJ Vavrik converted field goals of 24, 27 and 25 yards. The Tigers (1-1) scored last with 1:30 left but the Lions recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.
This was the first game coaching at WWS for Beutjer, an all-state quarterback for the Tigers’ 1999 undefeated Class 6A state championship team.
“It is a special place. I grew up going to Wheaton Tigers games when I was a little boy, so this is a special program, so many memories,” Beutjer said. “[But] if I thought about those types of things, then it would distract from my job now in preparing our kids.”
Besides being 4-for-4 on field goals, Vavrik surpassed his previous high of two field goals in one game, his first two ever with the Lions’ freshman B team against York, including a 47-yard game winner.
“I just kind of wound up and used all of my leg power. I just remember everybody rushing the field,” Vavrik said. “I’ve come a long way, all the way up to varsity. We have such a great team this year. We don’t even need to come down to that game-winning goal so far.”
Now also playing defensive back, Stamm enjoyed his first interception on a deflected pass. Other defensive standouts included Lou Ratcliffe (8 tackles, 2 for loss), Shane Harris (5 tackles) and JD Mahoney had (4 tackles, 3 for loss, 18-yard sack) and Jack Grigus (13-yard sack).
RBHS football
The Bulldogs have more than enough motivation for Friday’s Homecoming game against undefeated Ridgewood in their Upstate Eight Conference East Division debut.
RBHS (1-1) is coming off a 34-9 loss at Hinsdale on Sept. 6 after trailing 20-0 at halftime.
“It was a rough game for us in general,” RBHS coach Sam Styler said. “We’re a tough team. Obviously Homecoming is always a big week at every high school, so hopefully we’ll be able to bounce back.”
The Bulldogs closed to 20-9 in the third quarter on a 24-yard field goal by John Bielobradek and 26-yard touchdown run by sophomore quarterback Giancarlo Garcia. The Hornets (1-1) answered with a 62-yard TD run and added a fourth-quarter TD.
Garcia rushed for 91 yards on 15 carries and 13-for-24 passing for 120 yards with top receivers Xavier Mrozik-DeJesus (5 catches, 78 yards) and Nick Caputo (4 catches, 33 yards). Leading tacklers were Warren Mason with 12 (5 solos), Bielobradek (4 solos) and Max Strong with eight and Eric Servin seven.
