Glenbard West 41, Leyden 0

Glenbard West football coach Chad Hetlet has said most teams' greatest improvement occurs between Weeks 1 and 2.

There must be something to that, because after losing a low-scoring opener by a point, Glenbard West decimated Leyden 41-0 Saturday at Glen Ellyn's Duchon Field.

Asked if the performance was due more to attitude or technique, Glenbard West nose tackle Theo Odom said it all: "It was more of both."

The West Suburban Conference crossover was informed by Glenbard West's bitter 15-14 loss to Glenbard South as well as Leyden's 49-36 win over Niles North, in which the Eagles compiled a school-record 635 yards behind Josh Serrano's school-record 276 yards rushing.

On Saturday Glenbard West (1-1) ran for 373 yards and Andrew Baldwin passed for 90 more. The Hilltoppers' 3-5 defense held Serrano to 1 yard on 8 carries as Leyden (1-1) gained 50 yards overall.

"They were covering all the holes," Serrano said. "There was nothing. I'm speechless. I can't say anything I'm just so (mad)."

Glenbard West offensive linemen Chris Watt, Brad Krumwiede, James Wagner, Marty Detmer, Chris Kallapodi and Shawn Rhear paved the way to a running clock with 8:28 to play on Matt Hassan's 1-yard run.

"I think it was a little view into the past, I want to say. 'Hitters' football from the past -- just getting ready and blowing off the ball," said third-year tackle Krumwiede.

Tailbacks Bryant Venson and Mike Markese and fullback Kane Keirnan -- who ran for 142, 87 and 109 yards, respectively -- credited the line but also hit it hard.

"We were just hitting the outside," Venson said, "and every time they would think we'd go to the outside we'd run right up the gut."

Keirnan's 23-yard run opened the scoring. Markese's 6-yarder gave Glenbard West a 14-0 first-quarter lead.

The Hilltoppers led 27-0 at halftime on Venson's 51-yard run and Roger Pope's 49-yard touchdown catch.

At that point Glenbard West had 317 yards of offense to Leyden's 11.

Keirnan added an 11-yard touchdown run in the third quarter before Hassan got the clock rolling in the fourth. Matt Wetherell was 5-of-6 on extra points.

The win was big but Hetlet didn't turn cheerleader. After all, the Hilltoppers' last 40-point game came in the 3-6 season of 2005.

"It's an outstanding win, but it's one win," Hetlet said. "We didn't make the playoffs today, we didn't win conference. But it got us back on track."