Aurora Central clinches 1st winning season since ‘97
Behind a running attack as blistering as it was balanced, Aurora Central Catholic became football playoff-eligible Friday night for the first time in 15 years.
Blitzing visiting Walther Lutheran with a pair of touchdowns in each of the first three quarters, the Chargers dominated on both sides of the ball in their 42-7 Suburban Christian Conference Gold victory in Aurora.
With the one-sided win over the short-handed Broncos, ACC improved to 5-1 overall and 3-1.
Walther Lutheran, which dressed only 18 players, fell to 1-5, 1-3.
ACC also guaranteed its first winning season since 1997, the last time the Chargers made the playoffs.
Eleven different ball-carriers delivered for ACC, which gained 223 of its 365 yards rushing in the opening half.
Julian Rios made the most of his touches for the Chargers; the junior wingback scored twice while gaining 111 yards on 7 carries.
“I found some holes and just ran as fast as I could,” said Rios, who tallied from 10 and 4 yards out. “We just wanted (the win) bad.”
“It was great to see Julian have the game that he had,” ACC coach Brian Casey said.
The Chargers’ double-wing offense produced 25 first downs on the night as Brian Bohr was the inside workhorse for ACC.
The junior running back had a game-high 112 yards on 18 carries; the junior lugged the ball four times for 37 yards on the Chargers’ opening drive that quarterback Matt Rahn capped with a 2-yard keeper.
Steve Belovich doubled the Chargers’ margin with two minutes to play in the first quarter, and tackle Alec Licar pancaked a Walther Lutheran defensive player to unleash Rios’ first score early in the second quarter.
The Chargers’ defense was equally brilliant against Walther Lutheran.
The Broncos were able to garner a mere one first down during an 16-minute stretch bridging the second and third quarters.
Izzy Rosa spearheaded a tenacious defensive front for ACC.
“We’re just playing together and flying to the ball,” Rosa said. “We practiced all week on flying to the ball.”
ACC also kept their collective eyes on Walther Lutheran Najee Toomer.
“We found some ways to neutralize him,” Casey said of Toomer.
The senior wideout and quarterback in the Broncos’ wildcat look, ACC limited the explosive Toomer to 38 yards receiving and rushing.
Leading 28-0 at halftime following Rios’ second ground touchdown, ACC triggered a running clock late in the third quarter.
Belovich and Bohr both had touchdown runs of double-digit yardage, enabling Casey to empty the bench for the entire fourth quarter.
Belovich and Ramon Padilla had interceptions for the Chargers.
“They’re a nice team,” Walther coach Bruce Tuomi said. “They execute well. We’re thin (numbers-wise) but capable of playing better than that.”