Chicago-Area High School Football News and Scores | Season Pass

When Bloom junior running back Justus Brantley was asked to guess how many yards he gained in Saturday’s 43-15 win over Rich South Saturday at the Bloom Trail field, he said “one hundred or something?”

Nope. He passed that with more than 10 minutes left in the first half.

“Two hundred?”

Nope, he passed that up on his second carry in the third quarter.

When he was informed that he ran for 387 yards on 24 carries and five touchdowns, he smiled and said “Oh, snap, that’s good.’’

Longtime Bloom athletic director Joe Reda will research to find out if it’s a school record but said “I don’t think you would be wrong if you called it the record. I can’t imagine anyone ever having more yards than that.”

Brantley and Bloom coach Tony Palombo praised the Blazing Trojans line of Brandon Rockett, Alan Hall, Collis McCloud, Jalen Thomas and Antwan Bluster for the outburst.

“They gave me some wide-open, big ol’ holes to run through,” Brantley said.
It’s been a dream season so far for the Blazing Trojans, who are 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the Southland heading into next Saturday’s showdown with powerhouse Crete-Monee. Bloom was 4-23 the last three seasons and hasn’t been to the playoffs since 1989.

The team dominated the Stars (2-3, 0-1) thanks in part to interceptions by Josiah Dailey, Justin White and Malcolm Hurt, some timely sacks from Darryl Carr and Jataryan DeJareux’s tackle of Jaylen Zachery in the end zone for a safety. Hurt also had a 70-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

“I say it over and over, this team believes in being as one,” Palombo said. “Together they can do it. Separately they can’t. It’s been a long time since Bloom has been 4-1. Now we have Crete and they are the cream of the crop. I saw them [Friday] night and they are incredible.’’

Rich South quarterback Brendon Zachery was 14-for-44 for 283 yards and two touchdowns.

Roy Hickman caught four passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns.