Glenbard South answers Crissey's challenge

Glenbard South coach Ryan Crissey challenged his team in practice following an 0-2 start to the season.

The players responded and helped earn the first-year coach his first victory in the process during the Raiders' 48-0 shutout of Elmwood Park at home Friday night.

"It was a wonderful team effort," Crissey said. "It was a special week in practice. I really challenged everybody to step up. I wiped away depth charts and said we're starting over. The kids really picked it up."

A blocked punt by Glenbard South's Joharri Weatherspoon set up the Raiders' first touchdown after the ball was recovered at the Elmwood Park 3-yard line.

One play later, Sean Cooke scored his first of 3 touchdowns on a 3-yard run up the middle to put Glenbard South up 7-0.

On Elmwood Park's ensuing possession, the Raiders forced a fumble and recovery in Tigers' territory, which led to another score, this time on an 8-yard pass from Jack Crouch to Billy Bair, who made a one-handed grab near the corner of the end zone on the Raiders' second play of the second quarter.

Another turnover led to the game's third touchdown when Jimmy Ebbole intercepted Elmwood Park quarterback Xavier Vega at the Tigers' 43-yard line with 6:51 left in the first half.

Three plays later, Crouch tossed his second of 4 touchdown passes on the night, this time finding Ebbole on a deep route from 45 yards to put the Raiders up 21-0.

"Every game we want to force three turnovers and score twice on defense," Crissey said. "We didn't attain all of our goals on defense tonight, but I can't complain about how we swarmed to the ball and our intensity. The boys were relentless."

After an Elmwood Park three-and-out, Crouch connected with Bair again, this time from 22 yards out that put his team up 28-0.

He ended a dominant first half with a 41-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Springfloat, who sprinted down the visitor's sideline and hauled in the catch near the end zone for a 34-0 lead with just under a minute left.

"Jack (Crouch) is a good quarterback," Crissey said. "He's been training at quarterback since he was six. This is what he was born to do from an athlete's perspective."

Cooke scored on touchdown runs of 14 and 40 yards in the second half and finished the game with 30 carries for 256 yards rushing.

"It really helps us feel good about ourselves and have confidence in the coming weeks," Cooke said.