Win over ACC leaves Immaculate Conception singing

Aurora Central Catholic borrowed an old Driscoll pregame ritual on Saturday, marching onto Bob Stewart Field in formation, led by a bagpipe player.

Immaculate Conception made it a dirge, decisively winning the Suburban Christian Conference Blue Division game 41-0.

“I expected it to be a lot closer,” said IC coach Chris VanDyke, whose Knights (3-0, 1-0) came in stoked and rested after last week’s forfeit win in Michigan.

“When we watched them on film they’re physical, they’re athletic. I didn’t expect us to shut them out at all. They came out and fought hard, but we took what they gave us.”

Aurora Central (2-1, 0-1) didn’t force IC into a three-and-out possession until late in the third quarter, allowing touchdowns on four of five first-half possessions.

Luke Dickerson’s early second-quarter interception and 41-yard return provided a brief respite, trailing 20-0, but the Chargers stalled at IC’s 20-yard line on a fourth-down fumble.

IC linebackers Joe Iavarone, James Peachey and Matt Hornstra, safety Charlie Pulkownik, 320-pound tackle Christian Lopez and end Coleon Leverson, a major pest, did about all defensive coordinator Billy Krefft could ask.

“We couldn’t go and get our game going last week,” Leverson said, “so we figured we’ve got to go out this week.”

The 4-3 set contained ACC running back Dickerson and limited quarterback Kyle Clechenko to minus-1 yard passing through three quarters, by which time his day was done. Marcus Jefferson dented the perimeter for a team-high 41 yards rushing.

IC’s offensive line of Sean Fenton, Adalberto Suarez, Peachey, Brendan Flaherty and Patrick Skrodzki paved the way for 223 yards rushing, 71 of them on quarterback Demetrius Carr’s touchdown run on the third play from scrimmage.

Carr, who passed for 126 yards and ran for 114, hit Cody Baker and Sam Rose on 30-yard receptions to set up the first of Dan Vatch’s 2 short touchdown runs. A Peachey interception set up the second for the Knights’ 20-0 first quarter lead.

Last week’s cancellation provided motivation, Vatch said.

“It kind of did, because we really haven’t proved ourselves yet. And we just wanted to come out here and prove that we play as a team, and what we can do,” said Vatch, who gained 52 yards rushing while teammate Matt Mesnard ran for 50.

Carr followed a Tim Hipskind block for an 11-yard touchdown run and 27-0 halftime lead. The junior quarterback repaid the receiver by throwing 2 touchdown passes to him to initiate a running clock with 2:37 left in the third quarter.

ACC middle linebacker Nick Holzer, whose name was announced on nearly every Chargers tackle, was impressed.

“They run the ball. We usually can stop the run pretty easily. They pounded it. They passed the ball, too. The quarterback was great,” he said.

And now, time to move on, said ACC coach Brian Casey.

“Yeah, we took it on the chin tonight,” he said, “but guess what, every team takes it on the chin every now and again. Now we get to see really how mentally tough these kids are. Can we pick up and move on? My bet’s yes, but we’ll get that answer real quick Monday.”