Reed-Custer, Minooka football teams win

The Reed-Custer and Minooka football teams opened the season with wins on Friday night. The Comets defeated Lisle 21-12 and the Indians knocked off Oak Lawn by a 30-8 count.

Reed-Custer 21, Lisle 12 Casey Barnes scored all three touchdowns for Reed-Custer and the locals forced and recovered a late-game fumble to solidify the victory. Barnes scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak at 7:31 of the opening quarter and on a 37-yard at 2:25 of the same frame. Both of Chris Robinson's PAT kicks gave the Comets a 14-0 lead that would stand until the fourth quarter. After the Lions scored to make it 14-6 (the kick failed), Barnes scored for the final time on a 2-yard QB sneak at 3:20 of the fourth quarter and Robinson's kick made it 21-6. “It was a hard fought win,” Reed-Custer coach Dean Cappel said. “Junior running backs Ryan Garbin, Garrett Sandefur and Steven Davis were very effective running the ball.” Garbin had 89 yards in 20 carries for the Comets while Sandefur added eight carries for 38 yards and Davis nine carries for 51 yards. Barnes had 11 carries for 86 yards and he also threw the ball four times and completed two for 42 yards. “Defensively, Ryan Albin made a key fumble recovery for us in the fourth quarter of a Lisle drive,” Cappel said. “Our leaders on defense were Jim Benson (10 tackles), Barnes (8 tackles) and Robinson (7 tackles).” For the game, Reed-Custer had 13 first downs to 16 by Lisle but the Comets also outgained the Lions on the ground 268-114.

Minooka 30, Oak Lawn 8 The Indians opened the season on the road with a decisive win over Oak Lawn in a non-conference game. Elliot Allen carried the load to the Minooka offense in the first half and ended up with 102 yards on 18 carries in the contest. He scored on a 4-yard run in the first quarter and then teamed up with quarterback Brian Martin on a 37-yard TD pass in the same frame. Allen then made it a 21-0 score by hitting paydirt on a 1-yard run. A.J. Zalewski would then add a 26-yard field goal to all three of his PAT kicks and the Indians led 23-0. Defensively, Minooka held Oak Lawn to 153 total yards, Erick Smith and Zach Colvin each recovered a fumble and Tyler Hoeg and Matt Powers each added interceptions.