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Alden-Hebron grounds Christian Liberty

It’s been no secret that Christian Liberty likes to run the football.

But after the Chargers exploded for 404 rushing yards against Mooseheart last week, Alden-Hebron coach John Lalor had his players prepared for Christian Liberty’s run-oriented attack.

Though Christian Liberty did perhaps take the first step to creating a balance between the pass and the run in the fourth quarter, it was too little and too late for the Chargers as they dropped a 29-12 Northeastern Athletic battle with the Giants.

“He’s a very good coach and I know that he was looking out for our sweeps and traps,” said Christian Liberty coach Jim Calkins of Lalor. “We had a hard time opening up holes. We probably went to the air a little too late.”

After the Giants’ Chip McKay recovered a fumble in Charger territory, quarterback Bryce Lalor hit Logan Yerk on the next play for a 25-yard touchdown and 6-0 lead with 3:36 left in the opening quarter.

A safety and another touchdown pass from Lalor to McKay put Alden-Hebron (3-2, 3-2) up 15-0 at halftime. McKay and Yerk (15 carries, 92 yards) added rushing touchdowns in the third quarter to give the Giants a 29-0 advantage going into the fourth.

That’s when the Chargers started to open it up a little bit. To that point, quarterback Gabe Grob was 2-for-8 for 16 yards.

But Grob was far more effective in the final quarter, and he began it with a 13-play, 70-yard drive that culminated in him hitting Alex Glynn over the middle for an 18-yard touchdown.

“We all have a good relationship with him,” Glynn said of Grob. “I think we should pass a little more. We have been on the ground for most of our games and we are trying to get a better ratio.”

Christian Liberty (0-5, 0-5) recovered 2 fumbles in the fourth quarter. Frank Pavlik fell on the first one and Adam Palmer’s recovery with 3:35 remaining in the game led to the Chargers’ final scoring drive.

Grob, who totaled 106 yards through the air in the fourth quarter, connected with Shawn Andersen for 34 yards to give Christian Liberty first-and-goal. Three plays later, Pavlik rumbled into the end zone from 4 yards out to set the final margin.

“We have a lot of confidence in him to do that,” Calkins said of Grob throwing the ball. “We hope that we can be more dynamic in the future.”

Glynn led the Chargers with 72 yards on 9 carries, including a 40-yard run in the third quarter.

“We changed one of our plays up because they had adjusted to it,” Glynn said. “A hole just opened up and I cut it to the outside and it was a great run. Too bad we couldn’t score off it.”

JD Dulinsky had an interception and recovered an onside kick for the Chargers.

Images: Christian Liberty vs. Alden-Hebron football

  Christian Liberty running back Marcus Silva tries to shed Alden-Hebron tacklers during SaturdaysÂ’s game in Arlington Heights. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
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