http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/highschool/chi-081024-glenbard-west-hinsdale-central,0,3342620.story
 
No. 8 Glenbard West 9, No. 7 Hinsdale Central 0
Shutout of Red Devils brings 1st WSL Silver title in 14 seasons

By Steve Reaven | Special to the Tribune
11:39 PM CDT, October 24, 2008

Blessed with eight returning starters from a formidable 2007 unit, Glenbard West's swarming defense has made it awfully hard on opposing offenses this year.

That trend continued Friday night — with an assist from Mother Nature — as the undefeated Hilltoppers clinched their first West Suburban Silver title since 1994 by handing host Hinsdale Central a 9-0 defeat.

The victory also signaled a remarkable turnaround for a program that was 1-8 as recently as 2006.

A steady rain that fell throughout turned the field into a mud pit, and lightning caused nearly an hourlong delay shortly before halftime.

"It's been a huge turnaround, but going undefeated has been our goal this whole year," said senior halfback Robert Cook, who finished with 16 carries for 127 yards. "The weather made it so much more special because we had to overcome that much more."

Before Friday, Hinsdale Central's worst offensive output of the season had been 27 points in a season-opening overtime loss, but Glenbard West held the No. 7 Red Devils to 137 yards of total offense. Hinsdale Central had chances on two of its first three drives to hand the No. 8 Hilltoppers (9-0, 6-0) their first deficit of the year, but both stalled on downs deep inside Glenbard territory.

A 21-yard Cook touchdown run midway through the second quarter and a safety on a punt snap through the back of the end zone moments later turned out to be all the points the Hilltoppers needed. With the benefit of the lead, Glenbard's West's power rushing attack wore down Hinsdale Central (7-2, 5-1) in the second half despite being without standout guard Chris Watt, who sat out his second straight game with a sprained right ankle.

Last week the Notre Dame-bound Watt was selected to play in the the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 3.

For the game, Glenbard rushed for 249 yards, with Bryant Venson (15 carries, 75 yards) and fullback Matt Hassan (5 carries, 54 yards) complementing Cook's output.

Copyright © 2008, Chicago Tribune