Elmwood Park quarterback Patrick McNulty hit wide receiver Mitch Cervantes with an 85-yard touchdown strike to lift the host Tigers past conference rival Glenbard South 20-19 Friday night.
“It’s the biggest win we’ve had since I’ve been here,” said jubilant Elmwood Park athletic director Doug Noyes, who has been at the position for 12 years.
Elmwood Park (4-1, 1-0 Metro Suburban) came back from a 19-7 third-quarter deficit behind a pair of touchdown hookups from McNulty to Cervantes. The Tigers’ senior quarterback capped a 77-yard, nine-play drive with a nine-yard toss to his senior receiver at 5:29 of the third quarter to pull Elmwood Park within six points of Glenbard South (2-3, 0-1) after the extra-point try was blocked.
After trading possessions, Cervantes (8 catches, 168 yards, 2 TDs) completely faked out a Raiders’ defender and was wide open when McNulty (13-of-23, 206 yards, 2 TDs, INT) found him streaking down the sideline with a perfect pass for an 85-yard score with 9:11 left. David Benavidez booted the extra point this time and it proved to be a game-winner.
“This is the biggest win in decades for this program,” said Elmwood Park coach Luis Arroyo. “These kids just did not quit. That’s something we instill in these kids — never quit. There was a lot of adversity in that first quarter (when Glenbard South scored on its first drive), and we could have just gave up then and there, but we didn’t. Even with our No. 1 defensive player (Rocco Fanella, spine injury) out for the season and our best offensive player (Carlos Sandoval, ankle injury) hurt on his first carry, it shows our coaches are doing their jobs getting the backups ready.”
Junior James Angelico scored from the 2 to pull Elmwood Park to within 13-7 before halftime.
Pick up your local Pioneer Press newspaper on Sept. 27 to read more about the Elmwood Park football team.
