Willowbrook now looks for help catching Mustangs

The final score automatically leads to assumptions: Downers Grove South 49, Willowbrook 14.

Does that mean we can declare the Mustangs football champs of the West Suburban Gold one game into their league slate? Is it over before it barely even begins?

Not quite, although that was a common thought coming into the showdown featuring a pair of 3-0 state-ranked teams sitting on top of a field struggling elsewhere.

Leyden, with Friday's win over Morton, is the only other Gold team with a winning record. The Eagles, in fact, are technically atop the standings because they've played one more Gold game than Downers South.

To say it's over is an overstatement, but to say the Mustangs gained an edge to win the title would be a bigger understatement.

Friday night the Mustangs showed they're in it to win it. People tend to forget the seemingly perennial Gold champs haven't won the title since 2003.

Motivation levels are as high as the talent levels.

"The past couple of years we weren't in it," said Mustangs senior linebacker Jared Culver. "You only get nine games, so every one's crucial."

This game was pivotal for reasons beyond that inside track to the title. Willowbrook won two of the previous three meetings, including a 10-3 decision last year, so Downers South needed to come out strong.

The Warriors, meanwhile, know they have the stuff to stay on Downers South's heels the rest of the way. Ankle injuries suffered by Milton Colbert and Alberto Estrada make it tougher, but a bigger problem facing the Warriors is they need help from the other Gold teams.

Wherever that help may loom, the Mustangs sound prepared for the remaining Gold schedule.

"We're going to play every game like it's another good team," said Mustangs senior lineman Ben Apland. "You can't take anyone lightly."

Now that wins over Bolingbrook, York, Downers Grove North and Willowbrook are behind them, the Mustangs need to maintain peak performance in a stretch of games against teams hovering around the .500 mark.

Despite the signals Friday night, though, it's still too early to tell how it'll pan out.

"Everybody's building this as a conference championship game," said Willowbrook coach Mark Olson. "No way. You can't do that in game four. It's a marathon."

Good thing because Downers South just sprinted out of the gate.