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http://www.pioneerlocal.com/clarendonhills/sports/highschools/1169356,ch-timeout-091808-s1.article
Banged-up shoulder can't keep Kalsbeek off field September 18, 2008 The number 85 on Hinsdale Central's football team is none other than Davis Kalsbeek, whose early pass receptions Friday helped trigger a 33-7 victory at Lyons Township. Surprised? So was Kalsbeek. He thought his football career was over during Hinsdale Central's summer training camp at Eureka College when he dislocated his right shoulder an incredible 10 times. "I didn't tell anybody about it at first," Kalsbeek said. "Bad decision." But when the shoulder popped out and stayed out for an hour, Kalsbeek knew he needed doctors' opinions. "The first doctor said, 'There's no way you'll be able to play football, not with this kind of injury,' " Kalsbeek said of a torn labrum and bone chip. "I thought of all the weight training I'd done and running track to get ready for football, and it was all going down the drain. I started crying." Kalsbeek felt better when a second doctor offered this opinion: "With physical therapy and a shoulder brace, there's a good chance you can play again." That chance came Friday when Kalsbeek's catch from quarterback John Whitelaw helped set up an electrifying 80-yard touchdown run by Rich Zajeski on Hinsdale Central's first offensive series of the night. "I was really nervous before the game," Kalsbeek said. "I had kept Coach (Mike DiMatteo) informed about my progress and the doctor's report. When he finally said it was all up to me, I said, 'Good, because I can't stand on the sidelines any more.' " "I was scared going in. The big question was how the shoulder would feel when I got tackled. It was fine. I was on pain pills, but I don't think they mattered. I was just glad to be out there." Still, Kalsbeek barely could stand Saturday. "My legs and body hurt, but not the shoulder," he said, happily. "It's good pain, but if the shoulder comes out again, I'll probably call it a career. "I'm not going to play football in college and I need surgery on an ankle, so I'd probably do the shoulder and ankle at the same time and move on." Doings Cup The Red Devils (2-1) play host to Hinsdale South (1-2) at 7:30 p.m. Friday for The Doings Cup with Hinsdale Central owning a 14-12 series edge. Hinsdale Central won 51-3 last season, but DiMatteo and second-year Hinsdale South coach Alex Bitto are throwing that score out. DiMatteo: "We take every game seriously. We have to. It seems every game is a rivalry." Bitto: "They have a super quarterback (Whitelaw) and talent at other positions. We have to stay with them on both sides of the ball. It seems the longer we stay on the field, the better our chances." Bitto has running back threats in seniors Darrin Kidd, Jonathan Sterling and junior Devin Lee, who sprung a 64-yard TD run in Friday's 21-20 triple-overtime win over Leyden. Sophomores help DiMatteo doesn't hesitate to use sophomores on Hinsdale Central's varsity. If they can stand the heat, they're in the kitchen. Two years ago, DiMatteo watched Pat Clegg develop into one of the area's top nose guards under line coach Gary Gamen, and last year it was quarterback Whitelaw. "If we think they can play at this level and they show they're ready, they'll play," DiMatteo said. Enter current sophomores Jack Allen, a center with good zone-blocking techniques in Gamen's schemes, and Jake Knowles, who is another in a long like of good Hinsdale Central linebackers. "Unfortunately, Jake will miss the next couple of games with stitches under his knee," DiMatteo said. "He plays hard, sticks his body right in there." © Copyright 2008 Digital Chicago, Inc. |
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