Fenton defeats St. Edward in final seconds
Fenton football coach Mark Kos stood in awe as his players joined with their fans in jubilation in the west end zone.
His Bison had just rallied five times in the second half to win perhaps the wildest homecoming game in school history, 53-50 over St. Edward on Friday in Bensenville.
"I have no idea," Kos responded with a smile when asked what he had just witnessed. "Our kids are awesome. They work for everything they get. I couldn't be prouder of them. This team represents our school and community so well."
Babyfaced sophomore quarterback Kyle Cacioppo led the charge, throwing touchdown passes of 55, 56 and 11 yards in the second half to help his team improve to 3-3 and 1-1 in the Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division.
His favorite target was senior wide receiver Tyler Santagata, who caught 5 passes for 152 yards and 3 touchdowns, including the 11-yard game-winner with 45.8 seconds left that set the final score.
"It's a miracle," an out-of-breath Santagata said in the middle of the student scrum in the end zone. "We needed somebody to step up all year. It's been mostly running. We haven't really gotten the passing game to work, but I told Kyle to give me a chance today. Just give me the ball and I'll make something happen."
Added Cacioppo: "It feels amazing. Just working hard in practice, it finally pays off, and celebrating with my team was the best feeling ever."
The Bison won despite a monster performance from St. Edward quarterback Dylan Mlanarich, who competed 39 of 55 passes for 492 yards and 5 touchdowns.
With the Green Wave up 36-33 with 8:52 to go, Cacioppo dropped back and hit Santagata on a 55-yard touchdown pass up the middle. But on St. Edward's ensuing drive, Mlinarich hit Tyler Holte for a 76-yarder of his own to put his team up 43-39.
The teams were just getting started. Cacioppo hit Santagata again for a 56-yard scoring play on Fenton's next possession, but Mlinarich put together a 10-play, 66-yard drive that ended with a 16-yard scoring pass to Ryan Pomeroy, giving the Green Wave a 50-46 advantage with 4:37 to go.
Cacioppo countered with his own 12-play drive that ate up 55 yards and ended with an 11-yard scoring pass to Santagata in the right corner of the end zone, where the players and students congregated moments later.
"Great game, they played hard, we had so many kids injured," said St. Edward coach Mike Rolando, who suited just 18 players and saw his team fall to 4-2 and 0-2 in conference. "Five starters out for us, but great effort by our kids. They played their hearts out and that's all we can ask."
As for Mlinarich's big night, the gaudy stats were nothing like a victory. He hit Holte 13 times for 201 yards.
"They're just stats, a bunch of numbers," he said. "All I care about wins and playing with my brothers."