St. Francis’ bus journey again to Wheaton will probably be longer and happier than Kenwood’s brief journey north from Gately Stadium, however each groups will sit again and replicate on a season opener during which they flashed super potential and coronary heart.
The No. 18 Spartans got here again to win 38-34 on Thursday due to a four-yard landing cross from Brock Phillip to Dario Milivojevic with 12 seconds left.
“We simply believed in ourselves in that second and made it occur,” Phillip stated.”
St. Francis trailed 34-24 after Kenwood’s Kenyonte Louis scampered for a 9-yard TD run late within the third quarter.
“We made a few errors in that third quarter after which within the fourth we began gaining momentum,” Milivojevic stated. “We needed to persevere and drive via and win that soccer recreation.”
It was the primary begin for Phillip, a senior switch from Geneva.
“I’ve loads to show,” Phillip stated. “I’m enthusiastic about that and to be a part of this staff and the whole lot now we have occurring right here.”
Phillip was 18-for-24 for 311 yards and 4 touchdowns.
“We’ve got nice on and off subject chemistry with Brock, but it surely’s about adjusting to the sport environment,” Milivojevic stated. “On the highway, first recreation ever with him. We simply wanted a while, after which we did alright.”
Milivojevic had six receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns. Tanner Glock caught eight passes for 137 yards and one landing. Michigan State recruit Zach Washington caught a 23-yard TD cross within the third quarter to drag St. Francis inside 28-24.
The Spartans wanted all of these aerial fireworks as a result of Kenwood’s line of defense was stout. The Broncos held St. Francis to -30 dashing yards. Junior Aaron Smith and senior Kameron Love every sacked Phillips twice. Kenwood had six sacks general.
“We’d prefer to have slightly extra depth on protection, however the guys now we have are conditioned properly and so they combat to the top,” Broncos coach Chris Goffer stated.
It was a back-and-forth recreation. St. Francis led 14-0 within the second quarter. Kenwood led 21-14 at halftime after a landing run from Jayvon Anderson (11 carries, 75 yards) and two from Louis (16 carries, 83 yards).
“We misplaced this recreation final 12 months by six factors, and we’ve been ready for it,” Goffer stated. “I nonetheless don’t really feel like they beat us. We beat ourselves in the long run.”
Kenwood had the ball and a 34-31 lead with 4:40 left within the recreation. The Broncos picked up back-to-back delay of recreation penalties after which St. Francis blocked their punt.
“[Kenwood] positively stunned lots of people,” Milivojevic stated. “They’ve some nice playmakers, and [Louis] is basically good.”
Kenwood had 2 TDs known as again for holding on the opening drive. Then St. Francis strikes first.
Brock Phillip to Tanner Glock for a 50-yard TD.
St. Francis 7, Kenwood 0 pic.twitter.com/DQA9oXvNM1
— Michael O’Brien (@michaelsobrien) August 29, 2025
