York wins West Suburban Silver 27-20
When push came to shove -- these big boys gave plenty of each -- it was York that delivered the final blow at Glenbard West's 57th annual homecoming football game.
An overflow crowd at Duchon Field in Glen Ellyn saw York win the West Suburban Silver contest 27-20.
"Smashmouth all the way," said York 320-pound tackle Neal Deiters. "We started a rough homecoming week last week, we lost. But to come out here and get into our game style -- just run 'em over -- that's what we did."
York senior tailback Mike McNulty carried 28 times for 139 yards and 3 touchdowns.
"Hey, if they know where we're going every time, so be it. We have to execute," said McNulty, crediting linemen Deiters, Dustin Bles, Matt Graziano, Nate McDonald and Anthony Pennella.
York (4-2, 3-1) capitalized on sophomore call-up Danny Kosich's interception to open the scoring. Out of a double-tight end set McNulty ran 3 yards and Dan Johnston's kick provided a 7-0 lead at 5:33 of the first quarter.
Glenbard West (3-3, 1-2) tied the game 7-7 in the second quarter on Roger Pope's 37-yard touchdown catch from Andrew Baldwin.
It seemed York would head into halftime up 21-7 after McNulty and receiver Jordan Banuelos scored on consecutive possessions.
Baldwin had other ideas. The senior completed 3 of 5 passes in 47 seconds and hit Jesse Condie in stride for a 20-yard touchdown to cut the margin to 21-14 and whet appetites for the second half.
"Yeah, definitely. We came out ready to score and ready to turn the game around and get the game," said Baldwin, 9-of-15 passing for 159 yards.
Indeed, the Hilltoppers scored in the third quarter when Robert Cook ran a pitch for 48 of his 73 yards on the day. York defensive lineman Matt Cole blocked the extra-point kick to keep Glenbard West a point back, 21-20.
Still hot, Glenbard West nearly had a safety on J.T. Baginski's sack of Tom Judge inside York's 1-yard line.
Soon the Hilltoppers were first-and-goal at the York 12. But on fourth-and-goal from the 2, fullback Kane Keirnan's dive was stuffed by linebacker Brian Gidcumb and nose tackle Romell Johnson.
"That was tough," Hilltoppers coach Chad Hetlet said.
York ground the ball out of harm's way, forced a three-and-out on defense, then made it 27-20 with 1:35 left on McNulty's 5-yard run.
The Dukes failed on a fake-PAT, LSU-styled conversion. It didn't haunt them, as Baldwin's last pass fell incomplete with 44 seconds left.
After York coach Bill Lech reinstated several players suspended for a rule violation before last week's loss, a team win was just perfect.
"In the end they did what they needed to do," Lech said. "So for that I'm proud of them all, every single one."