Senior Jacob Retana helped the Riverside Brookfield High School football team’s prolific offense progress even further Friday. 

Retana had a 57-yard touchdown run on the second play from scrimmage and finished with three TDs and 122 yards on 11 carries in the Bulldogs’ 41-20 home victory over Hinsdale South to improve to 2-0.

“I believe that was the one of my best games throughout my high school career,” said Retana, who added 10 and 36-yard TDs in the fourth quarter. “I’d like to say that (running backs coach Nick Santos) helped me to get where I am.”

“Jacob’s a hard runner, lots of power, very elusive and when he gets in the open field, he can be pretty dangerous,” RBHS coach Sam Styler said.  

“I think that’s what make us dangerous, when you have as many weapons as we do. Our problem is trying to figure out who we’re getting the ball to.” 

The Bulldogs built upon their 35-27 opening victory at Niles West behind the starting offensive line of center Felix Sanchez, guards Joey Campagna and Daniel Amparan and tackles Charlie Jicha and Joaquin Jara.

Again alternating their two junior quarterbacks, Braeden Novak passed for 183 yards and three TDs to Jayden Karas (42 yards), John Bielobradek (39 yards) and Xavier Mrozik-DeJesus (56 yards). Giancarlo Garcia, last year’s starter, added 30 rushing yards.

“The offense has been really locked in this year,” Retana said. “We give it all our effort on the field, especially the linemen. They keep me going because if they’re gonna to give 100 percent for me, I’m gonna do the same for them.”

At Niles West, Novak passed for 157 yards and three TDs, and Garcia rushed for 92 yards with a 45-yard TD. 

Hinsdale South (0-2) tied the game 7-7 before Novak’s TD passes in stride to the wide-open Karas and Bielobradek. The Hornets closed to 27-20 with 9:45 left before Retana scored TDs on the Bulldogs’ next two possessions. 

“Our offense had a phenomenal night across the board,” Styler said. “Jacob set the tone early with his performance. The offensive line did a phenomenal job. Both (quarterbacks) put us in positions to be successful.”

Ryan Ferguson set up the last TD with his fumble recovery at the Hornets’ 31. Ben Biskupic recovered a later fumble caused by Warren Mason.  

Tackle leaders were Bryan Rimpila (9), Mason (six) and Ferguson (5). Andrew Olivares, Anthony Lembcke and Jayden Lee had tackles for loss. Ferguson and Oscar Aguirre had pass breakups.


LTHS football

Lyons Township senior receiver Anthony Pearson’s first varsity touchdown was a game changer Friday.

His 12-yard catch from quarterback Jack Slightom with 5:34 left gave the Lions the lead for good in their 31-28 victory over Wheaton Warrenville South in Western Springs. 

“I knew I could beat (the defender) so we called that play and I was side open,” Pearson said.  

“(The TD) was amazing. One of my dreams as a kid was get a touchdown on this field (Bennett) and it’s all thanks to my O-line.” 

The Lions (2-0) never trailed but saw the Tigers (1-1) again tie the game 21-21 with 10:57 left. The hosts responded with a 75-yard TD drive.  

“What I was really proud of with our kids was the fourth quarter. When we had to put a drive together, we did,” said LTHS coach Jon Beutjer, a 1999 WW South graduate.

After Pearson’s TD, LTHS senior lineman Jimmy Hillmann got a strip fumble recovery at the 24. 

Senior Ryland Avants’ 30-yard field goal with 1:31 left opened a 31-21 lead. The Tigers scored again with 36.0 seconds but Lou Ratcliffe recovered the onside kick and the Lions ran out the clock.

Hillmann and Pearson are cousins, Brookfield residents and two-way players.

“I haven’t done anything like that (fumble) since I played (youth football),” said Hillmann, an offensive lineman in 2024.  

“It’s nice to be playing defense now. I’m a senior, playing both ways. It’s just fun to get out there, make a play like that, shift momentum.”  

Senior linebacker Patrick Cheney had perhaps the biggest defensive play – a 41-yard interception return for a TD and 21-14 LTHS lead on the Tigers’ opening possession of the second half after their TD just 57.2 seconds before halftime tied the game. 

“(Cheney’s pick-six) gave us some momentum when I think they had the momentum (at halftime),” Beutjer said.

Ratcliffe caused a second-quarter fumble recovered by Niko Zecevic. Tackle leaders were Cole Harris (8) and Ratcliffe and Brady Koren (6 each). Ratcliffe and Harris had two tackles for loss. 

Slightom gave LTHS a 14-6 lead on a 1-yard sneak. Slightom also passed for 163 yards with a first-quarter 4-yard TD pass to Owen Matela after a 63-yard strike to Lukas Sanguinet. EJ Kuhlman rushed 55 yards, including five consecutive carries for 27 yards before Pearson’s TD reception. 

“That last dive, I feel like we all put our strength together. We had a different type of spirit,” Kuhlman said.