Derek Kumerow returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown to spark South Elgin to a 71-24 rout of winless East Aurora.
Shawn Griffin (five carries, 74 yards) and Kyle Ware (three carries, 50 yards) each had first-quarter TD runs for the Storm (3-3, 2-2) before East Aurora (0-6, 0-4) closed to within 21-10.
Ware then had a 15-yard TD run early in the second, and Griffin a 9-yard TD run less than three minutes later.
“The offensive line was making huge holes, and I hit them as hard as I could,” Griffin said. “Ware and I can split the carries and stay fresh, and it makes our offense more flexible.”
Nickiel Williby intercepted a deflected pass and returned it for a 42-yard TD as South Elgin scored three times in the first three minutes of the second. Joey Rohde also returned an interception for a 36-yard score.
Jacob Amrhein (5-for-6, 84 yards) hit Julian Lynch on a 12-yard scoring pass as the Storm led 57-10 at the half.
Kevin Henryson led the Storm (seven carries, 134 yards) in rushing.
St. Charles North 56, Larkin 7: Larkin (0-6, 0-4) tied the score at 7-7 on David Hibler’s 63-yard TD pass to A.J. Hunter in the first quarter but it was all Stars after that in the Upstate Eight River. North (4-2, 2-2) ran for 305 yards and had TDs from seven players, including two from Dom Sidari (105 rushing yards). North’s defense picked off Hibbler five times while limiting the Royals’ rushing attack to 45 yards.
Burlington Central 21, Marengo 13: The Rockets (4-2, 4-0) took advantage of turnovers as Trevor Davison and Jason Berango scored on 1-yard TD runs for a key win. Burlington stayed in a tie for first in the Big Northern East. Davison ran for 98 yards and Brad Sorensen caught a 30-yard TD pass from quarterback Robert Doubek (6-for-14, 72 yards) and also rushed for 72 yards. The Rockets’ defense made a goal-line stand at the end of the first half.
Woodstock North 21, Hampshire 9: Playing without injured quarterback Nick Mohlman, Hampshire (3-3, 1-2) couldn’t get into the end zone until Mason Fleury’s 12-yard run early in the fourth and dropped the Fox Valley Fox game. Hampshire’s Matt Bridges threw for 127 yards (13-for-25), Fleury rushed for 87 yards on 14 carries and Jose Hernandez kicked a 20-yard field goal.
Bartlett 23, Glenbard East 20: Bartlett forced seven turnovers, including Zach Hayes’ fumble recovery in the final seconds that gave Alex Triantos the chance to make good on a 23-yard field goal a few plays after he had missed from 33 yards, and the Hawks came away with the Upstate Eight Valley win. Nolan Bernat ran for 135 yards and a 2-yard TD, Cameron Mays returned an interception for a 75-yard TD and quarterback Brenner Wallace (14-for-28, 137 yards) scored on a 1-yard run for Bartlett.
Crystal Lake South 31, Dundee-Crown 13: Malik Dunner (13 rushes, 58 yards) scored on a 14-yard run and Brandon Brooks on a 2-yarder, but Crystal Lake South held Dundee-Crown (2-4, 0-3) in check in the Fox Valley Valley.
Rockford Christian Life 48, Westminster 7: Scotty Graziano caught a 16-yard TD pass from Max Tucker for Westminster’s only score in a loss to the unbeaten Northeastern Athletic Conference leaders. Tucker went 8-for-21 for 109 yards with an interception. Xavier Brown led Westminster (2-4, 2-4) in rushing (17 rushes, 85 yards).
