Crystal Lake Central runs past Grant

Prolific passing wasn't exactly the storyline on Friday in Fox Lake.

Host Grant completed 2 passes all night and struggled to run the ball against Crystal Lake Central's defense, which basically stacked 10 men in the box at all times. The Bulldogs averaged just 1.8 yards per rushing attempt in the first three quarters.

But the visiting Tigers showed that passing isn't everything. Central never completed a pass (going 0 for 3), but rolled up 415 yards on the ground and pulled away in the second half for a 41-12 nonconference football win.

"We had a couple chances to complete passes and we didn't," second-year Grant coach Vito Andriola said. "We have to be able to throw the ball. You see what happens. They put everyone there and the running game doesn't get going."

Crystal Lake Central played without star defensive end Romeo McKnight, who has committed to play in college at Iowa. He hurt his knee in a scrimmage and had an MRI exam Friday. CLC coach Jon McLaughlin is optimistic the injury won't be season-ending.

"We'll know more on Monday when we get the (MRI) results," McLaughlin said. "Hopefully he's able to come back and add even more to what we're doing."

Grant lost starting running back Ben Schram to an ankle injury on the first series. The game was competitive in the first half, though.

After Grant stuffed Central's first play for a 5-yard loss, Tigers wingback Aaron Sances found plenty of running room on a reverse handoff and bolted for a 70-yard touchdown on the second play.

Central had good field position on its next possession, but Bulldogs junior Ricky Allen stripped the ball and recovered a fumble on the first snap. From there, Grant moved 52 yards in seven plays. On third-and-8, Central sent pressure up the middle and Bulldogs senior Riley Whitney ran outside for a 26-yard touchdown. Grant trailed 7-6 after a missed extra point.

Central running back Shawn Kyska went 39 yards with a direct snap to boost the lead to 13-6. The Tigers had an opportunity to take command late in the second quarter after a fumbled punt snap gave them the ball at the 9-yard line. But Grant junior Drew Walker intercepted a pass in the end zone, keeping the Bulldogs within a TD at halftime.

A second fumbled punt snap set up Central at the 10-yard line early in the third quarter and Sances delivered a 10-yard TD on the next play. From there, the Tigers tacked on a number of long runs.

"It was a good first half," Andriola said. "I thought we came out with excitement and everything. They're better than us, which I knew. But I thought we could play with them if we played."

Central's top rusher was Kyska with 138 yards on 8 carries. QB quarterback Thomas Madura added 99 yards on 11 attempts, while Sances had 95 on 8 carries.

"We pride ourselves in just going hard all the time," Sances said. "We can run the ball against any defense."

Grant junior Isaac Jaime finished with 123 yards on 22 carries, although most of those came after the score got out of hand.