Immaculate Conception blanks ACC
Aurora Central was able to move the ball at times and convert its fair share of first downs on Friday night, but the Chargers proved unable to get the ball into the end zone.
They also could not stop the very potent offense attack of Immaculate Conception and dropped their Suburban Christian Gold Conference opener, 33-0.
“They were a very good team last year and have a lot of guys back,” Aurora Central coach Brian Casey said. “We wanted to be physical in every snap of the game and I thought we were. We competed a whole lot better than last year.”
There’s simply no arguing the fact that the Chargers continue to look up to an Immaculate Conception program, which has been dominating.
The Chargers have now dropped 14 straight to the Knights. They’ve been outscored
274-35 in the past six meetings and last came out on the winning end in 1998 when they scored a 20-6 decision.
Immaculate Conception (3-0, 1-0) jumped to a 21-0 lead at halftime, and its final score of the first half, which came with only 24 seconds remaining, may have been the most damaging.
After an intentional grounding penalty seemed to thwart the Knights, knocking them back to their own 35-yard line, quarterback Dimitris Carr connected on back-to-back passes to Tim Hipskind to push the ball all the way up to the Aurora Central 8-yard line. Carr then connected with Danny D’Angelo and the Knights rushed into halftime ahead by three scores.
“We had some stops but they also made some big plays,” Casey said. “Their quarterback is one heck of an athlete and makes them go. We knew he could be a difference-maker and I thought we schemed well.”
Aurora Central (2-1, 0-1) converted 12 first downs and received a strong effort from Steven Amoni (18 carries, 119 yards) but could not put a lengthy drive together.
Of course, a lot of that had to do with the Immaculate Conception defense, which had three sacks and 12 tackles for no gain or losses.
“We’ve got a great defensive unit,” Knights coach Bill Krefft said. “They’re selfless and know we’re better as a team than as individuals. They know their specific job and they came together tonight and did their job.”
Carr (11 carries, 88 yards) put the Knights ahead 7-0 in the first quarter on a 47-yard run. D’Angelo also found the end zone on a 26-yard run in the second quarter. The winners ensured there wouldn’t be a comeback by the hosts as they opened the second half with a 9-play drive that ended with Joey Iavarone scoring on a 1-yard run.
Iavarone was playing on both sides of the ball for the first time this season. He also had a sack.
“We’re a dedicated group and just trying to get better each week,” Iavarone said. “Our goal is to win state and to do that we have to keep getting better.”