Riley piles up yards as Panthers roll to victory

LISLE -- His first touch was a touchdown, he added three more and Oswego rode the churning legs of senior Tim Riley to a 32-7 victory over Benet on Friday night at Benedictine Stadium.

Riley went 68 yards untouched on a simple off-tackle play for a score on the Panthers' first offensive play of the game. He added five more runs of 10 or more yards and finished with 211 yards on 22 carries, but the first one was all the Panthers needed.

"Adam (Brooking) had a great block on the outside, and I saw the sideline and I just went," Riley said. "It turned out really well. It's a great feeling on the first play to get a nice long touchdown. It's always crucial to score first."

The lopsided result was nothing new in the recent history of this series. Oswego beat Benet 40-0 in last year's season opener and 31-12 in the 2006 opener.

Oswego's defense didn't give Benet much hope on Friday, posting a three-and-out in their first drive and an interception in the first play after Riley's long touchdown run.

"I don't think we could script it any better," Oswego coach Dave Keely said. "Not at all."

With Benet's passing attack misfiring, Oswego held the Redwings to 10 total yards on 12 plays in the first quarter.

Benet quarterback Jimmy Riley's first three passes were incomplete and the fourth landed in the hands of Panthers defensive back Josh Wagner. Riley didn't complete a pass until Oswego had a 20-0 lead in the second quarter, and that completion went for two yards on third-and-nine.

The Panthers didn't allow a first down until Benet's third drive, but that drive also stalled following Ryan Brustasori's sack of Riley that put Benet in a 3rd-and-long that ended in an incompletion. Oswego's defense limited Benet to three first downs and 40 total yards (eight passing) in the first half.

Redwings coach Gary Goforth complimented how physical Oswego was and criticized his team's lack of engagement at the point of attack. The rushing yards told the tale: Oswego racked up 284 yards; Benet had 39.

"We just caught people," Goforth said. "We don't want to see anyone get hurt, but (Tim Riley), you've got to take his legs out. You've got to hit him low. You're not going to get him up high. That's the game."

Oswego's rushing offense imposed its will on its first play from scrimmage and never looked back. Riley rushed for 104 yards in the first quarter on eight carries. He scored his second touchdown on a nine-yard reception from quarterback Nick Welch on 4th-and-8. Earlier in the 38-yard drive, Riley converted fourth-and-nine with a sweep off left tackle. He added a third touchdown in the opening half, this time a 1-yard run that capped a 13-play drive, and finished the first half with 161 yards rushing on 17 carries.

The Northwestern-bound running back showed his speed with his first touchdown. His final score, a bruising 15-yard march through the left side of the Benet defense, displayed his ability to shed tacklers.

"The blocking was great, and to break through tackles always feels a lot better," Riley said.