Leyden senior Javier Rhoades made the defensive play of the game, when he sacked Fenton quarterback Angel Velasco early in the first quarter, causing a fumble that senior linebacker Adam Morrison smothered.
Rhoades also executed the offensive play of the game, tight-rope walking the back of the end zone to pull in a Michael Smith bullet for the final score of the first half that gave the visitors a comfortable 20-0 cushion en route to the 34-0 opening victory in Bensenville. So, what did he enjoy better? “I’d have to say the touchdown, because it put points on the board for our team,” said the biggest player on the Eagles, at 6-foot-3, 255 pounds. Leyden put plenty of points on the board, and yards on the field, as the Eagles out-gained the Bison 486 yards to 134. Fenton was unable to contain shifty senior running back Mickey Gulo, who carried 26 times for 209 yards and a touchdown. His 7-yard dash in the first quarter opened the scoring. His number was called seven times on the 59-yard march that was capped by the Smith-to- Rhoades 3-yard TD with 19.5 seconds remaining in the first half. His longest carry of the night went for 47 yards down to the Fenton 7, from where junior Adam Whigham polished off the drive. Senior Maurice Frison closed out the scoring with a 65-yard burst up the middle. Smith, working behind a depleted offensive line, completed 11-of-20 passes for 123 yards.
