ROCKFORD — Wayland Academy’s game plan was simple: Run the football.
That’s exactly what the Big Red did Friday en route to a 42-0 win over Rockford Christian.
Wayland Academy unleashed its three-headed ground attack of Brennan Fitzgerald, Austin Williams and Adam Bunkoske, who combined for 389 rushing yards.
The Big Red of Beaver Dam, Wis., finished with 451 total rushing yards to the Royals’ 59.
“We have a pretty simple on offense,” Wayland Academy coach Craig Hill said. “Teams know what we are doing, but it can be frustrating for a defense. They know we will either toss it to our No. 33 (Williams) on the right side and come back with 8 (Bunkoske), and go to the big guy (Fitzgerald) in the middle. It can be frustrating to stop that, but very good for us to establish.”
The win gave the Big Red (6-1, 4-1) sole possession of second place in the Indian Trails Conference behind Alden-Hebron.
Rockford Christian drops to 5-2, 2-2 with two more conference games against Kirkland Hiawatha and Maranatha Baptist.
“Both of those games are winnable,” Rockford Christian coach Kirk Heidelberg said. “We have to bounce back and play better.”
Wayland Academy struck first with quarterback Brendan Rhatican’s 1-yard run. The Big Red led 28-0 at halftime.
Williams led the Big Red with 176 yards rushing with two touchdowns.
Rockford Christian’s best opportunity to score was stopped at the Big Red 1-yard line on fourth-and-goal with 2:38 left in the fourth quarter.
- Brenda Young, rrstar.com
