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Devils pound Downers South in statement game

November 6, 2008
By KEN RYAN


When the Hinsdale Central football team was shut out in its regular-season finale against Glenbard West, it didn't sit well with junior quarterback John Whitelaw.

He couldn't wait for the postseason to begin and certainly made amends Friday in the first round of the Class 8A playoffs.

Whitelaw accounted for four touchdowns to help the No. 9-seeded Red Devils crush No. 8 seed and host Downers Grove South 46-12.

"We were due for something like this," Whitelaw said. "We were playing well all year and kind of slowed down a little bit the last couple games. We lost a tough one last week, so we came out trying to get revenge and trying to make a statement for ourselves the rest of the playoffs."

Whitelaw completed 12 of 15 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 99 yards on 15 carries and scored two more touchdowns.

Hinsdale Central will now play host to No. 1 seed Bolingbrook (10-0), which pounded Curie 62-13 Friday, in a second-round matchup at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7.

The Red Devils set the tone for Friday's victory in the first quarter. Downers South (7-3) appeared poised to score first, driving to the Hinsdale Central 5-yard line on the opening drive of the game. But linebacker Eric Alexander stripped the ball from a Downers South running back and returned it 95 yards for a touchdown to give the Red Devils a 7-0 lead with 9 minutes, 34 seconds left in the first quarter to begin the rout.

Alexander more than made up for his roughing-the-passer penalty during the Mustangs' drive.

"I saw it was a run to my side and I just saw the ball hanging out there and I grabbed it," said Alexander, who also rushed for 72 yards on 11 carries. "I thought the play was over, but I didn't hear a whistle, so I just kept running. I thought somebody was chasing me, but then I saw one of my teammates and he looked pretty happy so I knew I had it.

"I've never had a play like that. That really set the tone and we kept (the momentum) the whole game. We didn't let up."

The win marked the third straight season that Hinsdale Central defeated a higher seed in the first round of the playoffs.

"It was kind of a statement game for us," senior nose tackle Pat Clegg said. "Where we are in the bracket doesn't really matter, but we were kind of disappointed with our nine seed. We definitely weren't intimidated by their higher seed and I think we showed that tonight. I've been waiting four years for this moment and we're ready to go. It's playoff time and we're geared up."

Whitelaw put the Red Devils up 14-0 with a 16-yard TD run and then threw a 7-yard TD pass to Mick Culligan (7 catches, 92 yards) to make the lead 21-0 after one quarter.

Hinsdale Central was still without leading rusher Rich Zajeski, who is nursing a high ankle sprain, but he should be ready to return against Bolingbrook. Sophomore Jake Knowles has made the most of his increased playing time because of the injury. He scored on a pair of 1-yard runs in the win. Knowles' first TD put the Red Devils ahead 27-0 with 7:05 left in the second quarter, then Alex Kirk caught an 18-yard TD pass from Whitelaw to give the Red Devils a 33-0 halftime advantage.

Knowles added his second TD midway through the third quarter, and Whitelaw scored his second touchdown on a 2-yard run to make the score 46-0 and start the running clock with 7:10 left in the game.

"We played really well obviously," Hinsdale Central coach Mike DiMatteo said. "You never know what you're going to get in the first round of the playoffs in terms of how the kids are going to come out of the gate. We played with a lot of energy today. Obviously Eric (Alexander's) play was a big momentum turner, but I think had (Downers South) scored anyhow, our energy level ultimately would've helped us prevail."

Downers South, which lost leading receiver Wes Manzer to an injury early in the game, spoiled the shutout bid when Scottie Williams scored on a 4-yard run with 1:57 remaining. Following Downers South's onside kick recovery, junior quarterback Chandler Whitmer (14-for-26, 208 yards, TD) eventually hit Jason Jozaites on a 9-yard TD strike with 15.2 seconds left.

Hinsdale Central's defense was led by Brendan Sullivan (7 tackles) and Jason Rafferty and Garrett Kawa (5 tackles each).

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