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St. Francis gets it done vs. Westmont

St. Francis senior Connor Schmidt perfectly summarized his team's performance in Saturday's football game.

"Inside, outside, wherever, we got it done," said the 6-foot-5, 255-pound tackle.

In its first game this season at its 2019 home turf of Wheaton College, St. Francis beat Metro Suburban Conference crossover foe Westmont 63-0.

St. Francis (2-1) led 42-0 after one quarter and scored on all seven of its first-half possessions, plus Enzo Rendina's 20-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Josh Winslow's 9 extra points came one away from joining the Illinois High School Association's list of most prolific PAT kickers for one game, a list that includes Montini graduate Andrew Harte and Red Grange, twice.

St. Francis' defense allowed 22 yards and kept Westmont on its half of the field until a minute remained in the third quarter, as Sentinels back Ben Juska never quit.

Westmont (1-2) lost quarterback Zack Fischer for the game after Jack McLennan's first-quarter sack. Mason Pardy relieved Fischer.

"We just had no answer for them," said Sentinels coach Dan Woulfe. "We talked about technique and staying lower than the guy across from them all week, but when the guys are that big and that strong - we're trying to be something like that - then that's what happened."

St. Francis needed to rinse off last week's 49-46 loss to Shepard.

"So learning from that, just preparing for this week and coming out firing on all cylinders, doing everything right, I feel it's good," said quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse.

He threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Jake Tangorra and a 35-yard strike to Ryan French. Ben Radel ran for first-quarter touchdowns of 39 and 21 yards and Tyler Bishop scored on a 5-yard run.

Spartans coach Bob McMillen liked the focus.

"We did everything we were hoping to do, and that was to be able to move the line of scrimmage on offense and control the line of scrimmage on defense," he said.

McMillen started subbing in the second quarter, which eventually produced reps and touchdowns from Vince D'Orazio, Toby Reynolds and Jackson Gerard, a receiver who backs up at quarterback.

Westmont's Juska gained 55 tough yards on 13 carries.

"He's like, 'Coach, can I run the ball?' I said, 'Absolutely, let's give it to you.' Something has to be said about someone facing what we were facing and he still wanted the ball," Woulfe said.

  St. Francis football players warm up on the Wheaton College McCully Stadium field after their own stadium suffered major water damage. They were playing Westmont in varsity football on Saturday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  St. Francis football player Jake Tangorra makes a leaping catch for a touchdown despite pressure from Westmont's defense in the first quarter of the varsity football matchup held at Wheaton College McCully Stadium on Saturday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  St. Francis' Ben Radel shakes off Westmont's defense enroute to his first quarter touchdown in the varsity football matchup held at Wheaton College McCully Stadium on Saturday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  St. Francis football player Tyler Bishop makes a touchdown that was set up by a fumble recovery by Luke Meyer in the first quarter of the varsity football matchup held at Wheaton College McCully Stadium on Saturday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  St. Francis football player Ben Radel and teammate TJ McMillen celebrate Radel's touchdown in the first quarter in the varsity football matchup held at Wheaton College McCully Stadium on Saturday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
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