By Nour Alzahran
Picture by Pics.byq - Quintin
The SDSSAA senior football season kicked off in dramatic fashion Friday as the league’s top contenders — Confederation, Lo-Ellen Park, and St. Benedict — all flexed their muscles in decisive opening-week victories.
Chargers Deliver a Rout
The Confederation Chargers, determined to avenge last year’s runner-up finish, wasted no time in making a statement. They stormed out to a staggering 42-0 lead by halftime and coasted to a 49-0 shutout of the St. Charles College Cardinals.
Owen Blay stole the spotlight, scoring three times on explosive plays, including touchdown runs of 60 and 57 yards and a 35-yard reception from quarterback Tyson Vitali. Contributions poured in from every corner of the roster: Evan Doyle punched in a short-yardage TD, King David Igiehon and Tucker Lalonde both electrified the crowd with punt return majors, and Brodie Rideout capped things off with a rushing score. Kicker Domadius Aziz added the exclamation mark, hitting all seven of his extra-point attempts.
Knights Keep Rolling
Meanwhile, the four-time defending champion Lo-Ellen Park Knights showed that their dynasty isn’t slowing down, blanking the Lasalle Lancers 28-0. Still, penalties plagued the Knights, preventing the game from being the blowout it could have been.
Quarterback Noah Parsons was sharp in the passing game, connecting with Quin Mazzuchin, Noah Skrobot, and Mishal Olanrewaju for touchdowns, while linebacker Connor Monahan added a defensive score on a fumble return. Veteran defender Niki Sola also snagged an interception to stall a Lancers drive, helping Lo-Ellen’s defense preserve the shutout.
For defensive tackle Cavan Clarke, now a cornerstone of the front line, consistency is the key to maintaining the Knights’ historic run. “We’ve just got to keep doing what we’ve been doing,” Clarke said. “Consistency is key.”
Bears Break Away
The day’s third headline saw the St. Benedict Bears wear down a resilient Lively Hawks squad, pulling away late for a 37-14 win. Quarterback Evan DeMarchi spread the wealth, tossing touchdown passes to Oliver Poupore and Dylan Nelson while also running one in himself. Sullivan Smith added a rushing score and a two-point conversion, while kicker Domingo Quintana chipped in three converts and a pair of field goals. The Bears’ defense even tallied a safety.
Lively fought hard early, with quarterback Ryder Villeneuve hooking up with Alex Campbell for a score and running back Cameron MacIntosh adding another. But the Bears’ depth proved too much as the second half wore on.
Looking Ahead
With Week 1 in the books, the stage is already set for high-stakes matchups. Next Friday’s early slate has Lively meeting St. Charles at 3:00 p.m., followed by Confederation against Lasalle at 5:15 p.m. The marquee game of the night? A 7:30 showdown between Lo-Ellen and St. Benedict — a clash that could help shape the road to this year’s city final.