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http://www.pioneerlocal.com/clarendonhills/sports/highschools/1241893,ch-hcfootball-102408-s1.article
Glenbard West 9, Hinsdale Central 0
October 24, 2008
BY BILL STONE -- PIONEER PRESS
The long-awaited, winner-take-all meeting between offensive powers
Hinsdale Central and Glenbard West for the West Suburban Conference
Silver Division title Friday in Hinsdale ended in a quagmire.
After constant rain and a lengthy lightning delay, the Hilltoppers
earned a muddy 9-0 victory that gives them their first Silver title
since 1994 and their first undefeated regular season since 1991.
The Red Devils (7-2, 5-1 in Silver) were going for their first
conference title since 2004.
Because of ankle injuries, the Red Devils played without top running
back Rich Zajeski, and the Hilltoppers played without Notre
Dame-bound standout lineman Chris Watt. Both teams entered the game
averaging more than 40 points per game, but all of the scoring
occurred in the second quarter just before a lightning delay of
nearly one hour occurred 1 minute, 15 seconds before halftime.
The Hilltoppers’ Robert Cook scored on a 22-yard touchdown run 5:35
before halftime, and Tim Hallowed added the extra point for a 7-0
lead. On the Red Devils’ ensuing possession, Connor Loftus sacked
Hinsdale Central quarterback John Whitelaw for a 12-yard loss on
third down, resulting in a fourth-down punt from the 14-yard line.
When the snap went over punter Whitelaw’s head, he knocked the ball
out of the end zone for a safety 3:52 before halftime.
Cook had just made a 42-yard run to the Red Devils’ 24 on the play
before the lightning delay. When the teams returned, they warmed up
for three minutes and the game resumed without a halftime break. The
Hilltoppers asserted themselves the rest of the way, allowing the
Red Devils just three three-and-outs and outgaining them 124-29
after leading 149-93 in yardage before the delay.
Still, the Red Devils had a chance to get back into the game after
Whitelaw’s 30-yard punt put the Hilltoppers at their 5 to start the
fourth quarter. Glenbard West responded with an impressive 16-play
drive of all running plays that consumed 8:13.
The drive reached the Red Devils’ 13 before a fourth-down, 5-yard
sack at the 18 by Mike Owens. The key play was a third-and-8
conversion from the 17 thanks to 37-pitch right run by Brandon
Venson that probably would have been a TD if not for a saving tackle
by Brian Connor. Venson earlier converted a third-and-3 from the 12.
On two of their first three drives, the Red Devils got inside the
Glenbard West 30 but came up empty. Early in the second quarter,
they moved 32 yards and reached the 24, but on fourth-and-13,
Whitelaw’s completed pass to Chris Kiser ended up at the 12, one
yard shy of a first down. The Hilltoppers then responding with their
TD drive, which received a big spark from Matt Hassan’s 43-yard gain
to the Red Devils’ 31.
The Red Devils’ opening drive went 13 plays for 48 yards but ended
at the 25 when Whitelaw made a fourth-and-10 rollout run and was
tripped up by Garrett Richards one yard from the first down.
Whitelaw completed 4 of 7 passes on the drive for 26 yards,
including a 8- and 10-yard third-down completions to Alex Kirk for
first downs, and ran for 16 yards, including a 3-yard run for a
first down.
Whitelaw was 10-for-20 passing for 68 yards and rushed for 36 yards.
Kirk and Mick Culligan each had 18 reception yards.
Just before the delay, the Red Devils’ Sean O’Grady intercepted a
pass at the 6 and returned it 19. Right after the delay, Allan
Cameron recovered a third-down fumble at the Red Devils’ 27. Mike
Rogowski had a tackle for loss.
Cook rushed for 143 yards on 20 carries, and Venson added 72 yards
on 15 carries. Glenbard West defensive standouts included Loftus (2
sacks), Alex Kummerer (sack) and Kyle Krumwiede and Pat Loveless
(tackles for loss).
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