Catanese, Addison Trail special in victory

Senior Anthony Catanese and the Addison Trail special teams combined to do it all on Friday night.

The Blazers opened their season with a 42-0 win over West Chicago at home in a game highlighted by big plays and turnovers.

The first score came on a 6-yard run by Catanese moments after a fumble was recovered by the Blazers on the opening kickoff.

“Special teams helped springboard us into a good overall effort on the night,” said Blazers coach Paul Parpet.

Later in the first quarter, Blazers quarterback Trevor Bermingham found Catanese on a perfectly timed crossing route. Catanese turned on the burners and sprinted his way 69 yards for another Blazers touchdown.

“Our line gave (Bermingham) a lot of time. He made a nice read and he hit me,” Catanese said. “We were all on the same page today.”

Minutes later Addison Trail turned a muffed punt by the Wildcats into another quick touchdown. This time it was running back Vince Beltrano from 10 yards out to extend the Blazers lead to 21-0.

“Going into the first game, special teams is always a concern,” Parpet said. “It was nice to see the kids come to play tonight.”

The Blazers’ dominance on special teams continued in the second quarter.

Catanese ran a 46-yard punt return back as he followed blocks and blew past major gaps in the coverage to put the Blazers ahead 28-0.

“I got a nice block from Justin Levonyak on the return,” Catanese said.

West Chicago was able to recover a botched snap in the second quarter and take over inside the Blazers’ 20, but Addison Trail’s defense came up strong and kept the Wildcats scoreless.

Catanese’s monster first half — which he scored 4 touchdowns and ran in a two-point conversion — concluded with a 29-yard touchdown reception from Bermingham.

The Blazers led 35-0 at the break.

The second half was highlighted by a 72-yard touchdown run by Blazers senior Anthony Messina. Messina broke tackles nearly the entire way as he put the Blazers up 42-0.

Despite the lopsided win, Addison Trail committed 10 penalties for 95 yards.

“Some of the penalties were heat-of-the-battle penalties, but we have to use our head more,” Parpet said.

West Chicago hosts Larkin Friday, while the Blazers will travel to Hillside to play Proviso West.

“We have to cut down on the penalties, and we can’t be fumbling the ball like we did today,” Catanese said.