By Dan McGrath
Noble Academy did Leo a solid by agreeing to fill in as a Homecoming football opponent after De La Salle canceled its season, citing insufficient numbers.
The Academy, located in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood, might be the academic showpiece of the Noble Street Network of charter schools. Football, not so much: The Griffins, with barely 20 players in uniform, brought an 0-5 record into the game and had been outscored 263-34.
Leo had its own problems, namely an 0-5 record and a 12-game losing streak dating to Week 3 of last season. So the Lions were looking to put it on somebody as a Homecoming testimonial, and the Griffins were their hapless victims, falling 47-0 before a good-sized, sun-splashed crowd on a pleasant fall Saturday at St. Rita’s Cronin Field.
In a big-play feast for the Lions, Ryan Cunningham treated himself to three helpings: He caught a 35-yard TD pass from Marshawn Durr on Leo’s first play from scrimmage, he brought a punt back 46 yards for a second TD and he weaved his way 88 yards with the second-half kickoff to complete the scoring.
Durr threw just three passes and completed all three for 72 yards and two touchdowns, the 35-yarder to Cunningham and a 9-yard strike to sophomore Antonio Clark.
Javon Logan scored on a 37-yard run and had a 34-yarder called back by a holding penalty. Derrick Davis had a 5-yard TD run, and Jaivon Dale covered a blocked punt in the end zone for still another score.
Leo had substitutes in the game early and often, and a running clock went into effect before halftime.
Hard to find fault with a 47-point blowout, but the Lions were far from perfect; They were assessed 125 yards in penalties – some of them rather silly – and lost two fumbles.
And there’s no time to celebrate with CCL/ESCC contender St. Rita (4-2, 1-1) next on Friday at St Rita. The Mustangs are likely to be ornery after taking a 45-21 trimming from Nazareth at Nazareth on Friday.