Carroll, Pipkins lead Harper

Updated: October 1, 2011 7:39PM

Maris Carroll and Kewan Pipkins made very rude hosts on Senn’s homecoming.

The two Harper stars each scored on a spectacular return in propelling the Cardinals’ explosive 58-6 victory at Winnemac Stadium Saturday afternoon.

The nephew of Harper coach Maris Carroll, the younger Carroll scored on a 60-yard punt return and a nine-yard touchdown run during a four-minute, first-quarter flurry that helped the Cardinals (5-1, 3-0 Illini Heartland) seize a 44-0 lead at the break.

“There were a lot of good blocks, I saw the opening and I just took off,” Carroll said. The returned punt was his third return touchdown of the season. “We just played our game and did what we were supposed to do,” he said.

Quarterback Pipkin returned a kick off 60 yards for a touchdown after the Harper defense recorded a safety by sacking Seen quarterback William James in the end zone. Pipkin’s 13-yard score off a quarterback option pushed the advantage to 44-0 late in the second quarter and triggered the running clock.

The kick off score was also Pipkin’s third return touchdown of the season. “It’s my favorite way to score,” he said. “The returns got the rest of the offense going, making everybody loose and just playing our game.”

Lorenzo Herbert’s 48-yard touchdown run and Antoriyo Barton’s 10-yard gallop completed the first half scoring for the Cardinals.

Reserve quarterback Michael Stevens accounted for both of Harper’s second half scores, a 20-yard touchdown pass to Dennis Barnes and three-yard touchdown run.

Senn quarterback James averted the shutout by throwing a 30-yard touchdown pass to receiver Anthony McKenzie on the final play of the game. It marked the lone first down for the Bulldogs (1-5, 0-3).

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