http://www.pioneerlocal.com/clarendonhills/sports/highschools/1249804,ch-hcfootball-102308-s1.article
 
Devils drop showdown, focus on playoffs

October 30, 2008
By BILL STONE

Hinsdale Central football players know that playoff seeds often are just numbers.

"The best team's going to win, and that's really all there is to it," Hinsdale Central senior linebacker and captain Brendan Sullivan said. "It's going to play out the way it's supposed to. We have to get it done in the first round, and I think we will."

The Red Devils (7-2) are the No. 9 seed in the lower bracket of the Class 8A playoffs and will visit West Suburban Conference Gold Division champion Downers Grove South (7-2) at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31. The Red Devils nearly won the WSC Silver title, but they lost Friday's first-place showdown 9-0 to Glenbard West on a wet and muddy Dickinson Field.

The defeat cost Hinsdale Central (5-1 in Silver) its first conference title since 2004 and a probable No. 2 playoff seed and first-round home game. However, the past two years under coach Mike DiMatteo, the Red Devils have beaten higher seeds in the first round. A victory Friday most likely earns a home game with undefeated No. 1 seed Bolingbrook.

"If you're going to let a (seed) number intimidate you, that's a problem," DiMatteo said. "We've got to play Downers Grove South and they're going to be ready and good, and we're going to be ready and good."

The Red Devils had to contend Friday with a determined Glenbard West (9-0, 6-0), constant rain and lightning, which caused a near one-hour delay with 1 minute, 15 seconds before halftime after all of the scoring occurred.

The game resumed with no halftime break and was mainly reduced to rushing plays in a quagmire, which played to the Hilltoppers' strength even minus Notre Dame-bound senior lineman Chris Watt (ankle injury). The conditions made the Red Devils lament even more about first-half drives that ended on the 25 and 12, both one yard shy after fourth-down conversion attempts.

Glenbard West responded with an 88-yard drive and Robert Cook's 22-yard touchdown run 5:35 before halftime. On the Red Devils' ensuing possession, Connor Loftus sacked quarterback John Whitelaw for a 12-yard loss, 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.

"No excuses, (Glenbard West) outplayed us, but it was rough, especially with how much we pass and are able to move the ball around and cut and get into the open field," Whitelaw said. "It definitely took away part of our game, but they played in it too and they definitely outplayed us."

During the delay, Sullivan and other defensive players changed their spikes for improved traction. When the teams returned, the Hilltoppers limited the Red Devils to three three-and-outs and outgained them 124-29 yards after leading 149-93.

The Hilltoppers were at their 5 to start the fourth quarter but mounted an impressive 16-play drive of all running plays that consumed 8:13.

"It was a mudbath for sure. Your feet were pretty heavy, trying to run around in like 10-pound shoes," Sullivan added.

Glenbard West enjoyed its first Silver title since 1994. Second-year head coach Chad Hetlet previously was as assistant coach at Hinsdale Central.

"Chad is one of my best friends and if we'd have to lose to anybody, it would be to Chad, but it still doesn't make me very happy," DiMatteo said.

Last year, the Red Devils lost their second-round playoff game 21-20 to Brother Rice on a late touchdown following a controversial call in which Whitelaw was sacked and lost a fumble when he might have already been down.

"A lot of us feel that woulda, coulda, shoulda, but we all know the feeling we had in our stomachs after that game," Sullivan added. "It wasn't a pleasant experience, and nobody wants to feel that again so we will fight until the end."

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