Offensive explosion leads ACC to first 'W'

ELGIN -- For three quarters Aurora Central Catholic didn't give its following much to cheer about.

However, that all changed in the final 12 minutes Friday.

The Chargers forced four fumbles and scored 28 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to rally from a two-score deficit and beat St. Edward 52-36 in a Suburban Catholic Conference matchup at Greg True Field.

Junior quarterback Mike Adams completed 14 of 23 passes for 339 yards and six touchdowns on the night. Senior Mark Adams had seven catches for 172 yards and three touchdowns and senior Kyle Edwards caught five passes for 129 yards and three touchdowns. Edwards also recovered three fumbles.

"I didn't know our team could get pumped up like that," Mark Adams said. "We haven't had a crowd like this in years I don't think. That was something we never felt before and we just stepped up."

St. Edward lost fumbles on six of its seven possessions in the second half as it tied a school record with its 23rd straight loss.

The victory was within reach for the Green Wave when Jimmy Mathisen scored on a 15-yard run with 13 seconds left in the third quarter to put St. Edward ahead 36-24.

The Chargers answered right back, though, marching 59 yards in five plays for their first touchdown of the second half to pull within 36-32 with 10:44 left in the game. The score marked the first of 28 unanswered points for ACC.

St. Edward quarterback Ryan Gilbert fumbled two plays into the Green Wave's ensuing possession. With momentum squarely on its side, ACC (1-2, 1-0) took a the lead three plays later on a 31-yard pass from Mike Adams to Kyle Edwards.

The Chargers added onto that lead after St. Edward (0-3, 0-1) fumbled a squib kick on the ensuing kickoff at its own 40-yard line. ACC once again took advantage of the turnover, scoring three plays later to take a 45-36 lead.

The Green Wave managed to march to the ACC 15-yard line on its next possession, but a Mathisen fumble on the third play of the drive ended the scoring threat. When the Chargers scored four plays later on a 43-yard pass from Mike Adams to Mark Adams the onslaught was complete.

In all, St. Edward fumbled 11 times in the second half, recovering five of the drops. ACC scored 21 of its 28 unanswered points in the fourth quarter off turnovers.

Sun-Times News Group

Aurora Central Catholic 52, St. Edward 36