<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3wVKxy_0viOpAxt00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3wVKxy_0viOpAxt00" width="776" height="1024" ><figcaption>Dom Pisciotti</figcaption></figure>While still the backup quarterback, Lyons Township High School Dom Pisciotti already was prepared to prove himself behind now-graduated, two-year starter Ryan Jackson. During the summer of 2023, Jackson was injured for an area 7-on-7 football showcase. Also a pitcher and first baseman, Pisciotti filled in by commuting daily between the event and his traveling baseball tournament in Iowa.“He’s got a chip on his shoulder. He’s always had that since we were little,” said senior four-year starter Travis Stamm, Pisciotti’s football teammate since third grade. He’s never, ever given up and turned his back when things got hard. And when things get tough, he takes the responsibility. That’s important to have as your quarterback. You can’t teach that. He put his time in and he’s finally reaping the rewards for sure.”Pisciotti was among the big contributors to the Lions’ satisfying 24-7 Homecoming victory over Glenbard West in Western Springs.The undefeated Lions (4-0, 2-0 in West Suburban Conference Silver Division) earned their first victory over the Hilltoppers (0-4, 0-2) since 2016.“[This season] kind of gave me a chip on my shoulder, just to come out and prove something, show everyone what I’ve got, how I can succeed,” Pisciotti said. “It definitely pays dividends, the hard work, just knowing we have actually something to prove this year. Especially our senior class, we want to be known as the best overall team — leadership-wise, athletically, just everything.” Pisciotti was 17-for-23 passing for 174 yards with a 2-yard TD pass to tight end Brady Rusk that gave the Lions a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Stamm caught nine passes for 99 yards and finished off the victory with his first interception return for a TD, a 50-yarder with 59.3 seconds left.“This win’s one of my favorites of all time. I’ve always watched (LTHS) lose to this team, so to be a special part of this win, I’ll never forget it,” he said. “That [pick six] was really special. I got to run down to the end zone and go celebrate with my grandparents, my cousin [sitting behind the guard rail]. I’ll never forget that play for sure, but mainly this game is super-special for me. And for it to be a home game, that we could do it at LT, it couldn’t be any better.” LTHS only led 10-7 at halftime. After the Hilltoppers punted away their first possession of the third quarter, the Lions responded with a 67-yard TD drive that consumed 7:58. Danny Carroll (45 yards, 21 carries) scored on a 4-yard run.“Our goal was to stop them and then go down and score. And a lot of that credit goes to our offensive line and [Pisciotti],” LTHS coach Jon Beutjer said.“We put him in a position to be successful but he does such a nice job of just reading the defense. There were times they did some different things and he made the throw.” Beutjer also praised defensive coordinator Bryan Bergman. Mack Long added another interception while tackle leaders included Lou Ratcliffe (9), Pat Cheney (8), Jack Grigus (7) and Long and JD Mahoney (6 each). Ayman Soltan, Long, Ratcliffe had tackles for loss.“I give it all to the coaches. The coaches set up a scheme for us and we did it well,” Cheney said. Pisciotti hit Stamm for a key 46-yard catch to the Glenbard West 28 to set up AJ Vavrik’s 36-yard field goal that ended the first half. Pisciotti especially was excited for Stamm’s pick six. That gave Stamm his first TD against Glenbard West — the only Silver Division team he’s never scored against. A quarterback since third grade, Pisciotti remembers Stamm playing quarterback, too.“We found out real quick Travis was just a lot better with the ball in his hands, making moves, getting in the end zone.” Pisciotti said. “My whole life, I think my job has been getting the ball out of my hands as fast as possible.” <h2>RBHS football</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0Rj4Sr_0viOpAxt00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Rj4Sr_0viOpAxt00" width="776" height="1024" ><figcaption>Giancarlo Garcia</figcaption></figure>Riverside Brookfield sophomore quarterback Giancarlo Garcia continues making progress in his first varsity season.On Friday, Garcia rushed for three touchdowns and threw a 61-yard TD pass to Xavier Mrozik-DeJesus as the Bulldogs rolled to a 30-14 victory at Elgin in the Upstate Eight Conference crossover.The Bulldogs (2-2) were coming off back-to-back losses by a combined score of 65-23. “Just getting back in the win column was something that was big,” RBHS coach Sam Styler said. “[Garcia has] definitely come a long way. He had a great game. He’s done a great job and he’s going to keep growing.” <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1mGEpC_0viOpAxt00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1mGEpC_0viOpAxt00" width="776" height="1024" ><figcaption>Oscar Aguirre</figcaption></figure>The Bulldogs opened a 23-0 lead in the second quarter with the TD pass after Garcia’s 3- and 12-yard TD runs and a 27-yard field goal by John Bielobradek. RBHS moved ahead 30-6 on Garcia’s 15-yard TD run. Garcia had 103 yards on 14 carries and was 6-for-11 passing for 111 yards. On the season, he has passed for 508 yards and three TDs and rushed for 285 yards with four TDs.“I think just his confidence has grown, controlling the offense and confidence pulling the ball on some of those reads and where he’s putting the ball and throwing it,” Styler said. Defensively, senior Caleb McCottry had two sacks and Warren Mason and Bielobradek had interceptions. Other contributors included Luke Ferguson (7 tackles, 5 solos, 1 for loss), Max Strong (8 tackles, 3 solos) and Oscar Aguirre and McCottry (3 solos each).The Maroons (0-4) had 41- and 87-yard TD passes but were held to minus-6 rushing yards and 10 first downs.</div></body>

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Lions roar in Homecoming win; Bulldogs bounce back at Elgin

While still the backup quarterback, Lyons Township High School Dom Pisciotti already was prepared to prove himself behind now-graduated, two-year starter Ryan Jackson. During the summer of 2023, Jackson was injured for an area 7-on-7 football showcase. Also a pitcher and first baseman, Pisciotti filled in by commuting daily between the event and his traveling baseball tournament in Iowa.