Sept. 20--Almost halfway through the regular season, Maine South's Brian Collis is still finding new options in the passing game.
Collis completed passes to six receivers and threw touchdowns to four of them as the Hawks rolled to a 63-21 Central Suburban League crossover win over Niles North in Park Ridge.
Collis tied a school record with six touchdown passes and threw for 430 yards as Maine South (2-2) pulled away from a 21-21 tie late in the first half.
Jonathan Arenas (169 receiving yards) and Ryan Holbrook each caught two TDs, while Sam Milazzo had his first varsity touchdown reception and Ryan Gibbons caught his first TD of the season.
Collis spread the credit, like the passes, around.
"The line gave me a lot of time," he said. "I think there was only one play where I really got pressure. We have a lot of talent at the receiver spots."
The Hawks also have a lot of options in the playbook.
"We were trying to give a little different look, switch up formations, get a little motion in there just to get their guys out of position," Collis said.
The game, which was suspended Friday because of bad weather with 4:41 left in the first quarter, went back and forth early.
Niles North (2-2) lost two-way standout Barrington Wade, an Iowa recruit, with a right shoulder injury on Maine South's first possession after play resumed Saturday. But it didn't seem to faze the Vikings' offense, which produced three long touchdown passes in a span of four offensive plays to pull into a 21-21 tie at 7:06 of the second quarter.
Markhus Taylor (340 passing yards) connected with Romario Gayle on 53- and 90-yard scoring passes, sandwiched around a 78-yarder to Matthew Taylor.
"I told (the defense) at halftime, 'We're not playing that bad,' " Maine South coach David Inserra said. "We gave up three big plays, we can't do that."
The Hawks were missing Cincinnati-bound lineman Liam O'Sullivan, out since a Week 1 injury, and running back Antonio Cristiano, also hurt. Both are expected back soon, according to Inserra.
The severity of Wade's injury wasn't immediately known. But Niles North coach Mark Egofske said running back/safety Craig Dawkins may miss the rest of the season with a left knee injury.
"We can't use that as an excuse," Egofske said. "Other kids have to step up to the plate. To their credit, they stepped up. ... These kids are battlers."
mclark@tribune.com
Player of the game: Brian Collis, Maine South, 19-for-29 passing, 430 yards, 6 TDs.
Key performers: Maine South -- Jonathan Arenas, 5 receptions, 169 yards, 2 TDs; Ryan Gibbons, 7 receptions, 99 yards, TD; Ryan Holbrook, 4 receptions, 93 yards, 2 TDs. Niles North -- Markhus Taylor, 22-for-37 passing, 340 yards, 3 TDs; Romario Gayle, 4 receptions, 150 yards, 2 TDs; Matthew Taylor, 7 receptions, 148 yards, TD.
