Immaculate Conception 35, Aurora Central 7

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 The Immaculate Conception football team likely clinched its first trip to the playoffs since 2005 with a 35-7 Suburban Catholic Conference win over host Aurora Central Catholic on a rainy Friday night.

The Knights concluded the regular season with a 5-4 record and should have plenty of playoff points to earn an at-large berth to the postseason.

“It feels good,” IC coach Bill Schmidt said. “It’s kind of like a three-year cycle for us, ’02, ’05 and now ’08. We’ve had our ups and downs this year, but when this team comes to play and takes care of business and just focuses on their job, we’re a very good team.”

The playoff pairings will be announced between 8 and 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.

The game started more than an hour late because of lightning delays during the sophomore game, which was called early in the fourth quarter.

IC (4-3 in SCC) took a 7-0 lead when Carlos Rodriguez scored on a 35-yard touchdown run with 2 minutes, 24 seconds left in the first quarter. Olivia Vatch booted the first of her three extra-points kicks.

IC quarterback Will Cronin gave the Knights a 14-0 halftime lead when he scored on a 58-yard keeper early in the second quarter. Rodriguez added his second TD of the game, this time from 10 yards out, and Paul Hornstra added a 5-yard TD run to put IC ahead 28-0 after three quarters.

Rob Peachey stretched IC’s lead to 35-0 when he busted up the middle for a 13-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.

Adam Scott spoiled the Knights’ shutout bid with a 35-yard TD run with 4:36 left in the game to pull Aurora Central (0-9, 0-7) to within 35-7.

IC attempted just one pass and rushed for 342 yards, led by Rodriguez (138 yards, 8 carries), Will Cronin (77 yards), Peachey (75 yards) and Hornstra (52 yards).

Nick Perrone and Erik Hansen each had an interception for the Knights.