In a physcial game contested in front of a tremendous crowd at Performance Trust Field, the Wheaton Academy football team moved to 4-0 on the season to remain undefested heading into conference play next week. The Warriors controlled the game from the outset, riding a dominant defensive perforance to the win. The 4-0 start marks the third year in a row the Warriors have reached that mark in their first four games of the season.
Wheaton Academy opened the scoring on a 24-yard field goal by
Miles VanderKlok in the 1st quarter to take a 3-0 lead. After the defense forced a punt, Wheaton Academy marched down the field, and quarterback
Ben Thorson connected with VanderKlok for a 6-yard touchdown strike and a 10-0 lead. After pinning the Tigers deep in their own territory, the Warriors scored on a safety thanks to linebacker
Nori Kasai's tackle in the end zone. Wheaton Academy took a 19-0 lead into halftime on another drive capped by a
Kent Harmon 2-yard touchdown plunge. The Warrior defense was particularly dominant in the 1st half, limiting Elmwood Park to 1 total yard on 17 plays.
In the 2nd half, the Warriors took the ball straight down the field and in for another score on a
Kent Harmon 9-yard touchdown run. The Warriors gave up 14 points late in the game off of two turnovers, one from a fumble which gave the ball to Elmwood Park on the 15 yard line, and a blocked punt which gave the ball to the Tigers on the 2. Elmwood Park was able to convert both turnovers into late touchdowns to help account for the 26-14 final.
On offense, Harmon shouldered much of the load, carrying the ball 27 times for 119 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Cristian Carstens carried it 9 times for 27 yards and had another catch for 11 yards. Thorson completed 12 of 25 passes for 149 yards and 1 touchdown. VanderKlok was on the receiving end of 6 of those balls, gaining 65 yards through the air and converting one score.
On defense,
Dimitrie Skakavac lead the effort with 6 total tackles and 2 tackles for loss.
Jay Callentine pitched in 3 total tackles with 1 interception and 1 forced fumble. The Warrior defense was swarming all night, holding the Elmwood Park offense to 67 total yards.
Next week Wheaton Academy will travel to play Riverside Brookfield. Kickoff is 7:15 PM.
