By Matt Le Cren
SeasonPass.com
Matt Alviti completed 24 of 35 passes for 328 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for another score as host Maine South rolled to a 42-7 victory over Lane in a Class 8A playoff opener Saturday in Park Ridge.
Alviti led the No. 3-ranked Hawks (10-0) to touchdowns on each of their first four possessions in building a 28-0 halftime lead. He completed passes to seven different receivers, with four catching touchdowns.
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We started real strong and offensively we played great in the first half, Alviti said. Our receivers are awesome. I think weve got the best receiving corps in the state.
Alviti tossed touchdown passes of 12 yards to John Solari and nine yards to Daly Guzaldo in the first quarter and found Zach Hinkamp on a 28-yarder and Guzaldo on a 26-yarder in the second quarter.
Lane (5-4) scored on a four-yard run by Jack McLaughlin midway through the third quarter and got the ball back when Joel Velazquez recovered a fumble by Alviti, who was sacked by Ricardo Reyes.
The visitors got one first down but Maine South linebacker Chris Buscemi ended the comeback bid when he picked off a McLaughlin pass and returned it 30 yards to the Lane 36, setting up a three-yard TD run by Alviti on the penultimate play of the quarter.
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I thought the defense picked us up, made the big interception on that fourth-down play and that was the team, Maine South coach David Inserra said. Chris Buscemi made a great play on it but I believe everybody was in the right position.
George Sajenko caught seven passes for 136 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, for Maine South, which also received 93 yards rushing from Anthony Mitchell. The Hawks will host Conant, which beat New Trier 14-0, in the second round.