WEST CHICAGO, Ill. (Mar. 19th, 2021) - Playing in their first game in the past 511 days, the Wheaton Academy football team posted a historic comeback to defeat Bishop McNamara 49-23 on Friday night at Performance Trust Field.
The Fighting Irish came out swinging as they scored on a 96-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. They added nine more second-half points on another touchdown pass and a safety to close out the half in the lead 16-0.
First-year head coach
Jim Johanik challenged his Warriors to respond to the adversity that they faced in the first game of the season, and they did. Now trailing 23-0, QB
David Dorn led Wheaton Academy down the field and RB/LB
Trevor Donna punched in the first Warrior touchdown of the season with 4:15 left in the third quarter, to bring Wheaton Academy within 17.
After forcing a turnover on downs, the Warriors entered the fourth quarter with the ball. On the next play, Dorn found
Andrew LaPlant for an 80-yard completion. A few plays later, Donna followed his blockers to score his second rushing TD of the evening. Following a successful two-point conversion,
Joseph Bracy intercepted a Fighting Irish pass attempt and returned it to their 15-yard line.
Finding the end zone for the third time was Donna to bring the Warriors within two, 21-23. On the ensuing possession,
Peter Johanik forced another Fighting Irish turnover, this time a fumble to give Wheaton Academy great field position to take the lead. On 2nd and 10 with 7:31 left in the contest, Dorn found freshman
Liam White across the middle for a 25-yard touchdown to give the Warriors their first lead of the game, 28-23.
Now playing with the lead, LaPlant undercut a Fighting Irish pass attempt and returned it 25-yards to the house for the score to give the Warriors a 35-23 advantage. In the next Bishop McNamara possession, Bracy picked off his second of the quarter to give the ball back to the Warrior offense.
Wheaton Academy kept the ball on the ground to keep the clock moving, and with 1:11 left in the game, Dorn called his own number as he scored his first rushing touchdown of the game. To secure their first win against Bishop McNamara since at least 2010, White jumped a Fighting Irish pass as he housed an interception with a minute left to bring the score to 49-23, which would be the final score.
The Warriors host St. Francis on Friday night at Performance Trust Field. The game is set to begin at 7:15 PM.
