Dazzling display from De La Salle
Last month, the whole world was treated to the Perseid meteor showers that brightened the night. Optimal viewing of this phenomenon is late at night.
Friday night was a different kind of prime time in Round Lake, as fans received an exclusive shower from the visiting Meteors of De La Salle - a display that saw the visitors roll up 50 straight points in a 57-20 victory over the host Panthers.
No player shined brighter for De La Salle (1-1) than junior quarterback Tom Duddleston. Amongst scattered rain showers, Duddleston (game-high 272 yards) threw 5 first half-touchdowns. The first was a 4-yard toss to Donald Gardner on the first series of the game.
Round Lake (1-1) did counter with a response of their own on their first series, as receiver Angel Martinez hauled in a perfectly placed ball from Cole Steger, resulting in a 14-yard score.
The Meteors then completely controlled the rest of the half. Duddleston spread the wealth to Eric Rooks (3 catches for 70 yards) for scoring strikes of 12 and 55 yards. Bryce Sutherland was on the receiving end of a 35-yard touchdown and Gardner hauled in another dart from 18 yards out.
De La Salle rolled up points on the ground in the first half, with Amir Watts and Pat Qualls tallied rushing touchdowns. Watts raced in from 21 yards while Qualls bowled in from three yards. The Meteors also rolled out a perfectly executed hook-and-ladder, with Sutherland (over 250 total yards from scrimmage) taking the pitch from Rooks 50 yards down the right sideline.
"It's part of our game plan," said De La Salle coach Mike Boehm. "We like to put defense in positions where they have to think."
The Panthers did cut the deficit by scoring two second half touchdowns, and they did them without the services of Steger, who was forced to leave with an injury. Steger's status for next week is unknown.
"I don't know the diagnosis," said Round Lake coach Jordan Eder. "He got hit in the back really hard."
Senior Ron Steadman threw an interception on his first pass, but later settled in and threw touchdown passes to Nathan Gonzalez and Danny Hernandez.
"Ron stepped in and did a great job," said Eder. "He finished the game well."