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Palatine handles Barrington

Palatine’s explosive offense was on full display in the a 35-14 victory over visiting Barrington in Friday night’s Mid-Suburban League West showdown at Chic Anderson Stadium.

While Palatine players like running backs John Serio and Cam Kuksa, quarterback Ethan Olles, and receivers Lucas Rago, Taylor Hall, and Jesse Bobbit were piling up 356 yards of offense and 5 touchdowns as a team, it was the Pirates’ offensive line that was truly dominant.

Offensive linemen Dan Jeske, C.J. Machnik, Layne Kirch, Nathan Gerdes and Josh Baldus did not allow a sack, and the Pirates had just 3 offensive plays that went for negative yardage all night.

“It’s critical for our success,” Palatine coach Tyler Donnelly said. “We can’t move the ball and can’t throw the ball if they don’t block well. They’re the heart and soul of the team.”

Jeske said all week in practice the Palatine (5-1, 2-0) offensive linemen were talking about being more physical, and he felt they were able to outmuscle Barrington (4-2, 1-1) on Friday night. With that part of the game in place, Palatine was able to showcase a pounding running game and a big-play passing attack.

“We’ve got Serio, who’s like 230 (pounds), and then we’ve got Kuksa, who’s just a jet and (Alex) Nawrot, who’s a jet, and Ethan (Olles) can run too at quarterback,” Jeske said. “We’re loaded for running, and then when we get our pass game clicking no one can beat us.”

The Pirates used their running game, which produced 231 yards on the night, to set up a deep passing attack, which featured a 48-yard touchdown strike from Olles (5-of-10, 122 yards) to Rago (3 catches for 74 yards), in the second half.

“That’s the name of our game,” Donnelly said. “We thought our skill kids could run by their secondary. We thought since they play so tight to the line of scrimmage we could catch them looking in the backfield and then throw over the top.”

Serio carried 20 times for 83 yards and a touchdown. He also threw a 5-yard touchdown to Hall. Kuksa piled up 82 yards on just 8 carries with 2 second-half touchdowns.

“We knew if we came out there and hit them we were going to get the edge because our linemen block downfield constantly,” Kuksa said. “It’s easy to find holes when we do that. We just hit them because we don’t give up.”

Images: Palatine vs. Barrington football

  Barrington quarterback Mark Bennett throws on the run as Palatine’s Nick Novelli gives chase during Friday’s game in Palatine. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
  Barrington Palatine during Friday’s game in Palatine. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
  Palatine quarterback Ethan Olles sports an inadvertent Heisman pose as he breaks a long run on a keeper against Barrington during Friday’s game in Palatine. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
  Barrington Palatine during Friday’s game in Palatine. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
  Palatine’s Cam Kuksa breaks free for a gain against Barrington during Friday’s game in Palatine. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
  Palatine’s Lucas Rago (32) is congratulated by his teammates after a third-quarter touchdown against Barrington during Friday’s MSL West game at Palatine. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
  Barrington’s Chase Murdock scores the Broncos’ first touchdown against Palatine during Friday’s game in Palatine. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com