Broncos' Early Scoring Proves Too Much for Wheeling

Senior wide receiver and defensive back Sam Handler knew that despite Wheeling’s (1-3) record that (3-1) still wanted to come out and establish momentum early.  So the Broncos did, by scoring on each team’s first play from the line of scrimmage and putting 9 points on the scoreboard in under thirty seconds on their way to a 37-15 victory.

 “We didn’t want (Wheeling) getting any chances of hope,” Handler said.

“We really have to thank the defense for the safety, that really got us the momentum early,” Handler went on to say of the Wildcats’ first play on offense that resulted with senior linebacker Cody Adelizzi recording a safety for Barrington’s early 2-0 lead.

“We executed, and everyone did a great job on coverage,” Adelizzi said.  “(Wheeling quarterback Tyler) Brady had nowhere to go with the ball.”

After the ensuing kick, Barrington’s first play on the offensive side of the ball also resulted in a score, a Handler 59-yard touchdown reception that gave the Broncos a 9-0 lead with only 29 seconds off the clock.  

“The offensive line made some great blocks in protection and (quarterback) Mark (Bennett) got the ball there,” Handler said.  Handler ended the game with four catches and 92 yards receiving while Bennett was very efficient finishing 8 of 12 for 113 yards.

“We were able to get off to a great start,” Barrington’s head coach Joe Sanchez said. “Our defense came up with a huge safety to start the ball game and then we were able to come up with a big play on our first offensive play of the game.”

Handler also played a factor in keeping the defensive momentum going by recovering a fumble moments later in the quarter.  The turnover, one of three for the Bronco defense which won the turnover battle by one, helped Barrington to their third score in the first quarter on the next drive. 

“Handler did a great job today on both sides of the ball,” Sanchez said.

The Broncos took a 16-0 lead on the Wildcats with a Chase Murdock 4-yard touchdown run (5:58 in the first).  The senior running back would rush for three touchdowns (all in the first half) and ended the night with 116 yards on 13 carries (94 yards for 10 carries in the first half) and 2 receptions for 6 yards in another fine performance in the backfield.

Murdock would score twice in the second quarter, an 18 yard rushing touchdown (7:39) and a 39 yard scamper less than two minutes later that gave the Broncos a 30-0 halftime lead.

“We were bringing people into the gaps, loading the box and hitting him with everything we could,” Wheeling coach Dave Dunbar said of Murdock.  “We weren’t having much success.”

“Barrington’s running game is really good,” Dunbar went on to say. “They have those big (offensive line) guys up front, and if you don’t get a hat on Murdock early, forget it, he is scooting up the seams.”

Barrington’s junior Justin Dragosz would get in on the long touchdown runs with his 25 yarder in the third quarter that gave Barrington a 37 point lead.  Dragosz ended with 3 carries for 30 yards while as a team they rushed for 243 yards in the game.

Wheeling would manage to sneak on the scoreboard in the fourth with Tyler Brady’s 70-yard touchdown run on a quarterback draw up the middle.  He would add a 39-yard pass moments later for their second score against the Bronco bench.  Brady was second on his team for rushing ending with 78 yards (15 carries) and was 6 of 16 for 88 yards and an interception to go with his two scores.  Senior Ed Scanlon led all rushers with 132 yards on 22 carries.

“Brady and Scanlon are really good ball players,” Sanchez said.  And as an ex-Wheeling running back, and in charge of a run game that features Murdock and Dan Voltz, Sanchez knows something about rushers and good players.

Barrington will face Hoffman Estates next Saturday, Sept. 24, as part of homecoming weekend.  The Broncos’ first conference game kicks off at 2 p.m., just following Barrington soccer who plays Buffalo Grove at 11:30 a.m.