As expected, the IC Catholic Prep football team took care of business in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs.
The Knights were 49-8 winners over Chicago Raby in a game played at Lewis Stadium at Plunkett Athletic Complex in Elmhurst.
IC Catholic Prep moved to 10-0 with the win and won its 11th playoff game in a row. The Knights are in search of their third state championship in a row.
Against Raby, the Knights led 14-0 after the first quarter, 28-0 at halftime and 42-0 heading into the fourth quarter.
Khalil Saunders completed just two passes for 76 yards. Both passes were touchdown throws.
Kyle Franklin ran 13 times for 130 yards (10.0 yards per carry) and scored three touchdowns. Rashad Sbeih ran 15 times for 87 yards and a score. Tommy Ryan had a 13-yard touchdown run, while Kevin Cooke ran once for 17 yards. Saunders ran two times for 26 yards. IC Catholic Prep racked up 273 yards on the ground in 32 carries (8.5 yards per carry).
Khali Saunders caught both touchdown passes from his brother (2 catches, 76 yards).
Cooke made 15 tackles on defense to lead the way. Khalil Saunders made 10 tackles, while Khali Saunders had nine tackles and Dominick Krepulec made eight tackles. Jacob Lytton, Larry Chavez, Michael Johnson, A.J. Howard and Ricky Mysliwiec each had a tackle for loss.
Lytton, Corties Draper and Johnson each had a quarterback sack, while Johnson had a quarterback hurry. Khali Saunders had a pass deflection, while Mysliwiec recovered a fumble that Cook caused.
Tom Sloan kicked seven extra points.
In 10 games, Franklin has run 159 times for 1,427 yards and has 25 rushing touchdowns. Khalil Saunders has thrown for 1,139 yards and 14 touchdowns and has run for four touchdowns.
Up next for IC Catholic Prep is a second-round contest at Stillman Valley either Friday or Saturday. Stillman Valley, located west of Rockford off Illinois 72, beat Dixon on the road 28-13 in its first-round contest.
