Elmwood Park football team christens new conference with loss

Moving the ball with consistency and scoring points continue to trouble Elmwood Park.

Such was the case Friday in the team’s 25-6 loss to Ridgewood in Norridge in the Metro Suburban East opener for both teams.

“I thought our defense played well again, but we still are learning our offense,” said first-year Elmwood Park coach John Freeman.

Down 19-0, junior quarterback Jason Polito-Carlson scored the team’s lone touchdown on a 1-yard plunge in the fourth quarter. Polito-Carlson has been platooning at the position with sophomore Brandon Romero, who started Friday’s game. Both are in their first varsity seasons.

For the third game in a row, Elmwood Park (1-4, 0-1) was unable to score more than seven points. The Tigers are averaging nine points a game.

“They are starting to get a good grip on the offense, but that comes with reps,” Freeman said. “I definitely see potential in both of them. Both have shown sparks.”

The Tigers host Guerin (1-4, 0-1) on Friday.