Sandburg storms by Stagg

Sandburg and Stagg paid the ultimate homage to smash-mouth football during the first nine minutes of Friday night's SouthWest Suburban crossover matchup at Andrew High School.

Then Sandburg smashed Stagg.

Once the Eagles scored their first touchdown with 3:05 left in the first period they simply couldn't be stopped, roaring to a 52-0 victory before a nearly full house – at least on the Sandburg side.

The game was played at Andrew because the turf fields at both competing schools are still being installed.

"Our fans are amazing," senior defensive back Marty Flynn said. "They're called ‘Super Fans,' and they come everywhere with us. Last week when we played here against Andrew, it was like a home game for us."

Cody Miller scored on a 22-yard run and threw a 17-yard TD pass to Brandon Lopez. Lopez (17 yards), Tres Oliver (59 yards), Jermell Harris (nine yards), Alec Melone (36 yards) and Kyle Williams (68 yards) all rushed for touchdowns, while Taylor Zalewski kicked seven extra points and a 30-yard field goal.

Harris and Flynn led a Sandburg defense that held Stagg without a first down until late in the third quarter. All three Chargers first downs came via penalties committed by Sandburg's second string defense.

"We have a really great defense," Harris said. "Everybody works as a unit. It's all teamwork out here. Coaches teach us every day to go straight to the ball, make the play."

There was a calm before the Sandburg storm.

The first three possessions saw the two teams go three and out. Sandburg finally went for it on a fourth-and-1 from the Stagg 33, with Miller executing a duck and sneak up the middle for 11 yards.

Two plays later Miller scored from the 22, setting off a points explosion.

"The line got great penetration on that (fourth down) play," Miller said. "I got some great blocking and a good play-action fake by our fullback on the touchdown run."

Sandburg scored twice more before the end of the first period and led 31-0 at the half. The Eagles got the ball to start the second half, and immediately struck on a 45-yard run by Miller and a 35-yard TD tote by Lopez.

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