The Riverside Brookfield High School football team’s offense enjoyed plenty of success in the season opener but only one touchdown. On Friday, the Bulldogs scored six on their first six possessions in a 41-34 victory at Hinsdale South. RBHS (1-1) lost its opener to Sandburg 28-6.
“It was definitely good to see them bounce back after Week 1 and show what we’re able to do the rest of the way,” RBHS coach Sam Styler said.
Quarterback Brendan Novak led the way by rushing for 139 yards on 21 carries with four TDs and passing for 150 yards on 14 of 19 completions. The Bulldogs had 409 yards of total offense. Seniors Bryan Rimpila and Gideon Bradford (77 yards on 12 carries) also had rushing TDs and senior Nico Caputo caught six passes for 75 yards. Henry Jurgens converted five extra points.
“Offensively, we controlled the game pretty well. Defensively, we gave up way too many big plays. But overall it’s a win so we’ll take it,” Styler said. “The offense did a phenomenal job, established the run game early on and often. We were extremely pleased with what our offense was able to do.”
Novak opened with TD runs of 4 and 17 yards in the first quarter. Rimpila joined the backfield in the second quarter for a 1-yard TD run and 21-7 lead. Later TD runs by Novak (17 yards) and Bradford (6 runs) in the final minute of the period created a 34-20 halftime advantage.
After a fourth-down tackle for loss by Anthony Lembcke halted the Hornets’ third-quarter drive at the 16, Novak scored again on a 7-yard run for the Bulldogs’ greatest advantage at 41-20.
The Hornets (0-2) scored TDs in the fourth quarter on a 17-yard pass and 25-yard run with fewer than seven minutes left. The Bulldogs used the ensuing possession to run out the clock by driving all the way to the Hornets’ 16.
Tackle leaders included Dean Mauban (10 with 4 solos) and Rimpila (7 with 5 solos) and Omar Guzman (4 with 3 solos). Andrew Olivares recorded a sack and Joe Stengl and Guzman also had tackles for loss. Joaquin Jara blocked an extra point.
LTHS football
Lyons Township High School senior Brendan McCabe awaited his chance to return to quarterback. After playing the position his first two years of high school, McCabe moved to safety in 2025 and had an outstanding season.
“To start for sure (it’s a transition), but now it feels great to be back. It’s where I’m meant to be and it’s great,” said McCabe, who delivered one of the biggest plays Friday as the Lions rallied for an 18-9 victory at Wheaton Warrenville South after trailing 9-0 at halftime.
With the Lions facing third-and-17 at their 42-yard line, McCabe first somehow eluded a sack. McCabe then scurried toward the right sideline and found senior receiver Owen Matela, whose great catch for a 24-yard gain kept the drive going. EJ Kuhlman scored on a 4-yard run four plays later to give the Lions the lead for good at 15-9 with 7:12 remaining.
“Those are crazy (plays),” McCabe said. “You kind of just run. If they can’t make the tackle, you just get outside and throw the ball.”
“He’s very elusive. He’s got a lot of grit and he’s a senior who cares and wants to win,” LTHS coach Jon Beutjer said. “That’s one of the strengths, his ability to extend plays. He’s athletic. He can throw on the run and he made some really, really big plays in the third and fourth quarter.”
After just 34 yards of offense in the first half, the Lions (2-0) took their opening drive of the second half 66 yards for a TD with Ben Sosne scoring on a fourth-and-1 run of 18 yards. The defense, meanwhile, allowed just 78 yards in the second-half after the Tigers scored on a 13-yard TD pass just four seconds before halftime.
“We showed them the iPads (at halftime) and said, ‘There’s stuff there.’ We’re not executing,” Beutjer said. “I’m just really proud of the guys’ grit and resilience. They kept believing in themselves, believing in each other.”
On the Lions’ second play of the second half, Kuhlman gained 38 yards to the Tigers’ 27 and provided the initial spark.
“The first half didn’t go our way, but we never lost our effort,” Kuhlman said. “Especially popping a play like that right after halftime was such a good switch. To have momentum is definitely why we won the game.”
Sosne’s TD cut the deficit to 9-7. The starting linebacker has come in for short-yardage situations during both games so far.
“As a primarily defensive person, getting to run the ball a little, it is very, very fun,” Sosne said. “That touchdown was all my o-line. You could have driven a semi-truck through there.”
Kuhlman rushed for 99 of his 104 yards in the second half. Junior Wolfie Ketterling added a 35-yard field goal with 2:05 left for a two-score advantage.
“It was a fun one. Proud of our team a lot. We’re a special team. We can do anything we need to,” McCabe said. “Our identity is run the ball and we ran the ball and that’s what won us the game.”
Junior Colman O’Sullivan had four tackles for loss and joined Cole Harris with a team-high eight total tackles. Aidan Webster had four tackles and Sosne also recovered a fumble on defense.
“Very fun (game). The close ones are the best for sure,” Sosne said.
