As a former ballboy for Hinsdale Central's 2002 state semifinalist football team, John Whitelaw has already experienced the Red Devils' playoff success.

On Friday, Hinsdale Central's sophomore quarterback became a bigger part of that tradition.

Whitelaw threw a 3-yard touchdown pass and ran for a decisive 38-yard TD while the Red Devils' defense turned in a fantastic effort as No. 12 seed Hinsdale Central upset No. 5 Waubonsie Valley 12-10 in a rain-drenched Class 8A first-round, lower-bracket playoff game in Aurora.

Last year, the Red Devils upset another Upstate Eight Conference team, Neuqua Valley, 11-7 in the first round of the playoffs. Hinsdale Central (7-3) has now won six straight first-round playoff games in seven consecutive playoff appearances.

The Red Devils play host to No. 4 Brother Rice (8-2) at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, in the second round.

"The tradition is to win and not lose in the first round, so we kind of have to live up to that expectation," said Whitelaw, whose brother, Drew, was a defensive back for that 2002 team. "We talked about it before in the pregame speech, how seeds don't really mean anything. Play with more heart and you'll win."

Waubonsie Valley (7-3) had its six-game winning streak snapped. The Warriors also suffered first-round playoff losses in 2004 and 2005 after not qualifying last year.

"There's a different pressure when you're in the playoffs and unless you've been in it all the time ... ," Waubonsie Valley coach Paul Murphy said. "I don't think our kids thought (Hinsdale Central) would have another gear and they did. And we didn't have another gear tonight. And that to me just comes from experience. Hinsdale's been in the playoffs for a lot of years."

The Red Devils made two key plays to start the second half as the rain subsided. Rich Zajeski returned the second-half kickoff 48 yards, then Whitelaw ran a 38-yard option keeper for a TD and a 12-7 lead after their second failed conversion.

"It was a perfect play call and perfect blocking," Whitelaw said of linemen Tim Curran, Collin Watkins, Jack Curatolo, Ben Morrison and Robbie Mains. "Everything just opened up. I didn't really have to do much but run."

"We talked about momentum the second half," Hinsdale Central coach Mike DiMatteo said. "Richie did a great job getting us started (on the kickoff)."

Hinsdale Central's defense did the rest. The Red Devils outgained Waubonsie Valley 161-84 for the game as the wet conditions made it difficult to move the ball.

"It was slippery, it was hard to keep your feet, especially on the line when you're blocking someone," Hinsdale Central junior defensive lineman Mike Owens said. "Our whole defense was just booming with confidence. We just came out there and we're a lot stronger and just stuck it to them."

Waubonsie Valley closed to 12-10 on Mitch Ewald's 31-yard field goal with 5 minutes, 38 seconds left in the third quarter after the Warriors' Nate Lorance recovered an errant Red Devils' shotgun snap at the 17-yard line. Ewald missed a 43-yarder in the second quarter.

"It never really felt as close as it was," Whitelaw said. "The defense was just dominating the whole game."

Never did the defense come up bigger than after Waubonsie Valley stopped Hinsdale Central on a fourth-and-one at midfield with 10:50 left. On the next play, Hinsdale Central junior lineman Pat Clegg sacked quarterback Tyler Castro, who left with a knee injury on the play. Ben Hartzman sacked reserve Jeremy Knight for a 10-yard loss on third down, forcing a punt.

"They had some big offensive linemen (including a 6-foot-6, 315-pounder), but we played hard and we really wanted it," Clegg said. "We knew we could win." Hinsdale Central sealed the win as Owens recovered a fumble and Ryan Murphy grabbed his second interception of the second half on the Warriors' next two possessions. Brendan Sullivan (sack), Brian Connor (pass break-up) and Kyle Larkin also led the defense.

"The defensive effort was absolutely outstanding on every level," DiMatteo said. "We challenged our kids. Their offensive line was big, nasty and fast. But we play with a lot of heart."

Hinsdale Central took a 6-0 lead on Whitelaw's 3-yard TD pass to Davis Kalsbeek on fourth down to cap a 15-play, 58-yard drive highlighted by Billy Auriemma's 5-yard reverse-the-field run on fourth-and-four. Waubonsie's blocked punt led to Rich Tronolone's 1-yard TD run for a 7-6 lead midway through the second quarter.

Hinsdale Central had lost two of its previous three games entering the playoffs, including a 15-13 loss to Glenbard West that cost it a share of the conference title in the regular-season finale.

"Our guys were devastated after that loss, but they're resilient," DiMatteo said.


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