Comets Break Near Decade Drought in Wheaton with Commanding 28–6 Win

For nearly a decade, Wheaton had been the Comets’ graveyard. Trips to face the Warriors and now the Border West co-op over the years ended in heartbreak. But Friday night, the Comets stormed in with command, composure, and poise, delivering a 28–6 victory that lifted them to 4–0 and made a loud statement about where this team is headed.

Border West drew first blood with a bruising drive that ended in a short touchdown run, but that was the last time the home team would find the end zone. Comet quarterback Ethan Swedberg quickly steadied the Comets, marching them 60 yards before finishing the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. Swedburg rolled right on the two-point try and zipped a pass to Maverick Peterson, swinging the lead in Hillcrest’s favor at 8–6.

The Comets seized momentum in the second quarter and never looked back. Eli Walkup capped a drive with a one-yard plunge through the line, a score that came after his steady runs had worn down the defense. Minutes later, Swedberg stepped into the pocket and delivered a perfect 28-yard strike down the sideline to senior captain Sean Berge for a highlight-reel score. Drew Fischer added the two-point rush, muscling through tacklers, and Hillcrest jogged to halftime with a commanding 22–6 lead.

When the third quarter opened, the Comets added to the scoreboard. Swedberg took off on a designed run, weaving through tacklers for a 19-yard touchdown that stretched the margin to 28–6. From there, the defense slammed the door. Time after time, Border West pressed into the red zone, but the Comets stiffened. Fourth-down stops piled up, the perimeter was shut down, and the home stands grew quiet.

“Amazing game by our guys—four quarters of Comet football,” Head Coach Korey Fry said. “This is a tough place to play, and our team’s commitment to each other and to our school showed up in the way we played. Fast, physical, and disciplined.”

It wasn’t just the highlights; it was the balance. Hillcrest racked up 388 yards of total offense, spreading the damage evenly with 247 on the ground and 141 through the air. Swedberg’s dual-threat leadership charged the Comets as he carried the ball 18 times for 144 yards and two touchdowns while also completing 11 of 16 passes for 141 yards and a score. Walkup gave the team steady support on the ground, with 18 carries for 84 yards and his one-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Through the air, Drew Fischer hauled in five passes for 39 yards, Isaac Blaskowski stretched the field with two catches for 38 yards, Peterson added two for 23, and Berge’s lone 28-yard grab lit up the scoreboard.

Defensively, the story was grit. Griffen Haus turned in 12 tackles, flying sideline to sideline, while Berge added 10.5 of his own to pair with his touchdown catch. McGuire broke through for a crucial sack in the red zone, and Fischer, Dane Larby, and others swarmed in for key stops. Levi Bowman and Peterson each chipped in tackles while also making an impact on special teams, Bowman returning kicks and punts to flip field position.

“Our edge players, Griffin Haus and Sean Berge, were everywhere tonight,” Fry said. “They took away the perimeter and made it hard for Border West to get lateral. Ethan continues to show he’s one of the best players in the state, but what I love most is how the whole unit competed, snap after snap.”

Fry’s words captured the moment perfectly. For nearly a decade, the Comets had left Wheaton with disappointment. This time, they left with a signature road win, a 4–0 record, and the kind of performance that speaks to hunger and discipline. “It’s been a long time since we’ve been 4–0, but we’re still hungry and determined,” Fry said. “We’ll keep stacking good days, clean up the details, and see how high and how far this group can go.”