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Defensive stand sparks Devils' surge against DGN

October 9, 2008
By PATRICK KELLY | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

When the Hinsdale Central football team managed to score just six points in the first half Friday against Downers Grove North, the last thing the Red Devils needed was to see the Trojans recover a pooch kick at the start of the third quarter.

The defensive stand that followed though, when Hinsdale Central prevented Downers North from gaining a yard for a first down at the Red Devils' 5-yard line by stuffing three straight running plays, was just the spark the offense needed.

It completely swung the momentum, as Hinsdale Central scored on four straight series, including a 95-yard scoring pass from John Whitelaw to Mick Culligan immediately following the defensive stop.

The Red Devils never looked back, turning a 6-0 lead into a 34-6 West Suburban Silver Conference victory in the battle for the Old Oaken Bucket in Downers Grove. Hinsdale Central now leads the series 39-32-3.

"To start the second half, they took the momentum when they got the recovery on the kick return," Culligan said. "After that, our sideline got into it, and the goal line stand was just huge.

"It was a huge momentum changer, and after that our offense knew that we had to come out and click. And that is exactly what happened. You could tell when their offense left the field, they kind of walked off, and from then on it was our game."

The missed opportunity for Downers North to grab the lead took an emotional toll on the Trojans, who did not get into the red zone again until after the Red Devils had reeled off 28 more points.

"That really got the offense fired up," explained Jack Curatolo, a senior offensive lineman who came in to bolster the defensive line. "I got to stay out there and stay on offense, so after that we got really motivated."

Whitelaw (14 for 22, 282 yards, 3 TDs) had another impressive performance, adding a 41-yard scoring pass to Culligan (3 catches, 142 yards), in addition to a 35-yard strike to Alex Kirk on Hinsdale's first offensive series of the game.

After only gaining 33 yards on the ground in the first half, the Red Devils' rushing attack came back with 190 after the intermission. Rich Zajeski (117 yards) led the way, including breaking loose for a 65-yard TD run in the final minutes of the third quarter.

"The last four games we have been putting up points left and right, it was shocking only putting up six points in the first half," Culligan said. "But we knew if we came out ready in the second half that we could get as many touchdowns as we had the ball."

Defensively, the Red Devils were solid all evening, not allowing Downers North any pass completions and limiting the Trojans to just 56 rushing yards in the first half. Garrett Kawa intercepted the first Trojans' pass attempt on the opening series of the game.

The victory was Hinsdale Central's fifth straight after a season-opening overtime loss to Wheaton Warrenville South and sets up a three-game stretch that will decide the conference championship against York (4-2, 2-2), Proviso West (2-4, 0-4) and Glenbard West (6-0, 3-0).

"We were not looking past (Downers North), we were just not executing on offense," Curatolo said. "We came out in the second half and did what we were supposed to do, but should have done it all game."

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