The game did not begin in Mike Rybarczyk’s favor. The Addison Trail senior quarterback threw high on passes and struggled to connect with his receivers.
He got mad after the Blazers failed to score in the first quarter.
“I definitely started out a little rusty,” he said.
He went to his second option, beating Morton with his feet and the rest of his star caliber game followed.
Rybarczyk broke two long runs to help Addison Trail’s offense erupt for five second-quarter touchdowns in accounting for two rushing and two passing scores as the No. 22 Blazers shredded Morton 40-14 Friday night in Cicero.
After starting the game missing on eight of his first 12 passes, Rybarczyk completed 11-of-21 passes for 161 yards. He added 77 yards on four carries. Rybarczyk has scored 17 touchdowns (nine rushing, eight passing) for the undefeated Blazers (6-0, 4-0, West Suburban Gold).
Addison Trail led 34-0 at the break.
Sparked by the massive Homecoming crowd, Morton played the Blazers even for a quarter. Quarterback Julio Garcia ran for 44 yards in the first quarter for the Mustangs, who attempted and missed a 39-yard field on their second possession.
A 29-yard Rybarczyk burst ignited the Addison Trail offense at the start of the second quarter. Two plays later, operating out of the shotgun, Rybarczyk broke left untouched down the sideline for an 18-yard touchdown.
On the ensuing possession, Rybarczyk broke through the Mustangs’ interior and broke free down the left sideline before breaking off and turning against the grain for the final 15 yards for the 38-yard touchdown jaunt.
“I got outside and a receiver picked up a great downfield block and I made that final turn,” he said.
Addison Trail scored four touchdowns in just over six minutes as the Blazers’ opportunistic defense and special teams recorded back-to-back fumble recoveries in fueling the run.
“We took advantage of the field position,” Rybarczyk said.
Larry Thomas scored his first touchdown on a one-yard plunge and Mike Hundley broke open a 32-yard touchdown run. Completing four-of-five passes on the Blazers’ final first half possession, Rybarczyk ended the dominant second quarter by escaping the pocket and connecting with Jake Atiyeh for a 34-yard touchdown pass.
Playing just one series in the second half Rybarczyk ended the night in style with a 13-yard bullet over the middle to Jaavion Bradley.
Jose Flores scored on a 73-yard touchdown run and backup quarterback Eric Delgado added a 12-yard touchdown run in the closing minutes for the Mustangs (2-4, 2-2).
