Dare to dream?
Stagg junior Adam Pilota had one Thursday night about playing in his first varsity football game Friday.
Only he had his opponents mixed up.
“I dreamed it was Sandburg,” he said. “Nothing really happened. We were just sitting around talking and giving each other dirty looks, like usual. Then I woke up.”
In reality, Friday’s opponent was visiting Hillcrest. And a lot happened as Stagg delivered an early knockout punch en route to a 43-14 victory.
Pilota had a varsity debut to remember, rushing 16 times for 67 yards and touchdown runs of 1, 15 and 30 yards. He also completed a pair of touchdown passes of 65 and 57 yards, to Jack Duffner and Vito Cali, respectively.
Joe Falk added a kickoff return of 87 yards for the Chargers, who were winless in 2010 and 1-8 in 2011.
Dare to dream?
“I think we should do good this year,” Pilota said. “We have a new coach (Mark Kleinpeter) and he really worked us hard this summer. So I think we’re ready for Sandburg (Friday).
“This was one of the best days of my life. I did this for my grandma Joyce (Wazny) up in heaven. She died in May after a long battle with cancer.”
It was all Stagg from the opening kickoff, which resulted in a Hillcrest fumble and a Chargers recovery by Amir Almasri. Dennis Eagen chewed up 15 yards on two carries, but Pilota did most of the rest with his legs during the 31-yard mini-drive.
The Chargers led 37-0 at the half, and set the running clock in motion on Falk’s kickoff return to start the third period.
Hillcrest scored twice in the final six minutes on passes of 31 and 15 yards from Devonte Brewer to London Covington. Brewer finished 9-of-20 for 129 yards.