The IC Catholic Prep football team hit the road and got things done.
The Knights built a big first-half lead on their way to a 42-14 Chicago Catholic League crossover win against Benet Academy in Lisle.
The win pushed ICCP, the No. 1-ranked team in the state in Class 3A in the most recent Illinois Media poll, to 7-0 overall and pushed it closer toward hosting a first-round home playoff game.
The Knights got on the board first with a safety in the first quarter to take a 2-0 lead. Running back Jakobe Baldwin later scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to put ICCP up 8-0.
After a Jaden Penna interception, Baldwin again scored on an eight-yard touchdown run to move the Knights to a 15-0 advantage.
In the second quarter, Knights quarterback Nate Lang hit Anthony Carroccio with a 75-yard scoring strike to put them up 21-0.
A Benet touchdown cut the lead to 21-7.
After Luke Rhomberg blocked a punt, Lang connected with Penna on an 11-yard touchdown pass and ICCP led 28-7. Isaac Barrientos also had a quarterback sack for the Knights late in the first half.
ICCP made it 35-7 after quarterback Jake Yost threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Will Schmidt. The Knights scored their final points of the evening when Yost connected with Penna on an 50-yard touchdown pass to make it 42-7.
The Knights have now outscored opponents 242-83 this season through seven weeks. In six of its seven wins, ICCP’s defense has held teams to 15 points or less.
ICCP welcomes Loyola Academy, the state’s top-ranked team in Class 8A, to Lewis Stadium in Elmhurst Friday for another Chicago Catholic League crossover contest.
Of the 7-0 automatic playoff qualifiers in the state who have not clinched a conference championship yet, ICCP has the third-most playoff points, trailing only Class 8A schools Lincoln-Way East and Friday’s foe, Loyola Academy. ICCP has 34 playoff points (combined total of its opponents wins/strength of schedule), while Lincoln-Way East and Loyola each have 38.
