Glenbard West takes battle of unbeatens
In four of the last six football seasons, Glenbard West finished the regular season with a perfect record.
The Hilltoppers took a huge step in making it five of seven on Saturday.
In a showdown between unbeaten leaders from the West Suburban Conference Silver and Gold divisions, Glenbard West knocked off visiting Addison Trail 33-15 at Glen Ellyn's Duchon Field.
Junior Sam Brodner again carried the load for the Hilltoppers (8-0), running the ball 29 times for 191 yards and first-half touchdowns of 55, 2, 22 and 4 yards. He also had two long touchdown runs called back on holding penalties.
"We love to start fast," Brodner said. "Coach (John) Sigmund always talks about it and coach (Chad) Hetlet is always talking about starting fast."
It was a tough day for the Blazers (7-1), and not only because they were denied their first win over Glenbard West since 2006.
Midway through the second quarter, quarterback Mike Rybarczyk ran down the right sideline for 45 yards inside the Hilltoppers' 5-yard line. Rybarczyk, however, suffered a lower leg injury that required him to be taken off the field on a stretcher.
Trailing 19-7, the Blazers lost their three-year starter at the worst time. They were also whistled for holding on the play and wound up coming away with no points.
Glenbard West took a 26-7 lead to halftime after Brodner's fourth touchdown run.
"It was a huge momentum change in the game," Addison Trail coach Paul Parpet Jr. said of the loss of Rybarczyk, who gave the Blazers a 7-6 first-quarter lead on a 62-yard touchdown run. "It didn't look too promising down there, so we'll just have to wait and see. It's unfortunate. Not only is he a great young man, but he's our leader."
Addison Trail pulled within 26-13 in the third quarter on backup quarterback Ryan Zygowicz's 65-yard touchdown pass to Jaavion Bradley. The Blazers again played without injured leading rusher Malik Pierre-Louis, who's expected to return next week against Willowbrook.
"I think we played pretty well in the first half," said Glenbard West linebacker Nico Gagliano. "We gave up some big plays and we need to fix those."
Glenbard West linebacker Ryan Andreasik answered Bradley's score in the fourth quarter with a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown. Addison Trail added 2 points on a safety in the game's final minute.
"The second half was more of a result of Addison Trail playing physical and us not responding," said Hetlet, whose team can wrap up another 9-0 regular season with a win at York next week. "What a great job they did with a backup running back, with a backup quarterback. They showed a tremendous amount of heart."
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