Glenbard North devours Fenger
Glenbard North running back Phil Jackson was battling hunger pains while waiting through a two-hour lightning delay Saturday against Fenger at Gately Stadium in Chicago.
So the running back and his brother, Justin, had their dad pick them up some food at a nearby Subway.
Then the senior and his teammates ate up yards against the Titans in a 48-0 Panthers victory. Glenbard North moved to 2-0 while Fenger fell to 1-1.
“That was a long wait, so my brother and I split a foot-long,” said Jackson, after rushing for 12 times for 60 yards and 3 touchdowns. “The wait wasn’t bad. We actually had fun, bonding and talking about the game.”
Jackson opened the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown in the first quarter, then added a 12-yard TD in the second quarter and a 7-yard score in the third.
Six of the Panthers’ 7 touchdowns were on the ground.
“The first couple of series we were just trying to get into a groove after waiting so long, but after that our linemen hit their blocks and did a great job,” Jackson said.
In his second varsity start, Panthers’ quarterback Brian Murphy ran for a 23-yard touchdown and connected with Solomon Oquendo for a 46-yard score.
Murphy was 4-of-8 for 102 yards.
“We were pacing back and forth during the delay because we wanted to play so bad,” Murphy said. “Our line dominated their line, and our wide receivers were making great blocks.”
On the other side of the ball, the Panthers were just as dominant, as their defense held the Titans to only 68 yards of offense.
Justin Jackson had a 21-yard touchdown in the third quarter to put the Panthers ahead 41-0 and Stephen Talarico capped the scoring with a 1-yard fourth-quarter plunge.
After two easy nonconference wins, the Panthers feel they are ready for the rugged DuPage Valley Conference schedule, which begins Friday — at home against West Chicago.
“Our goal is to win the conference, like it is every year,” Murphy said. “First up is West Chicago. We have to figure out a way to beat them and move on from there.”