Our Saints brought home the first win of the season at the homecoming football game. Breaking an eight-game losing streak from last season, the Saints scored 40-7 over the visiting team, Glenbard North Panthers.
East’s last win in the previous season was against the Panthers with a score of 14-0. The St. Charles East student section dressed in all black for the game, roaring with excitement from the big win, clanking their cowbells provided by Assistant Director of Student Life Lisa Dandre.
“The student section was great to see, it was packed… I was dreaming of that moment since I was a kid,” said junior halfback Xander Salazar. The Saints came on top with an advantage in the turnover battle 4-0.
With this big win came a lot of highlights. “My favorite play of the game was scoring my first varsity touchdown,” Salazar said. “It felt great to finally be in the end zone and seeing the stands and my teammates cheering.”
Saint’s junior quarterback JT Padron had a turnover at the Panthers’ 32-yard line. Giving the Saints a lead in the opening quarter, Salazar scored on a one-yard run leading the Saints 7-0. Panthers quarterback, senior Ben Princis, tied the game 7-7 with Zechariah Moore on an 80-yard touchdown. Salazar made a five-yard touchdown leading the Saints 14-7.
With the homecoming game came homecoming festivities, so each grade paraded their float around the track as the spirit stick winner was announced. Seniors won the spirit stick with 66 points, followed by juniors with 57, sophomores with 48, and freshmen with 40 points.
Increasing their lead 34 seconds left until halftime to 20-7 after junior quarterback Leo Bolsoni had two interceptions followed by Padrons eight-yard TD strike to junior wide receiver Peter Vanlue. Salazar made a third touchdown in the second half making the game 27-7. After three quarters, Padron made a 16-yard touchdown toss to junior wide receiver Sheko Gjokaj, extending their lead to 33-7. Bolsoni’s 89 yards of receiving and interceptions completed the night with his 42-yard interception in the fourth quarter for a touchdown. The game ended 40-7.
The Saints won their Homecoming game for the first time in six years.
