Hinsdale C. hits it against Waubonsie

In defending the option the quarterback must be hit every single play.

John Whitelaw showed why when on the first play from scrimmage in the second half of Friday's Class 8A first-round playoff football game, the Hinsdale Central sophomore ran 38 yards untouched into the end zone.

His option keeper was the game-winning touchdown in the 12th-seeded Red Devils' 12-10 win over No. 5 seed Waubonsie Valley in Aurora.

Hinsdale Central (7-3) will host No. 4 seed Brother Rice, which beat Plainfield Central 41-3, next week in Round 2.

"Perfect play call and it opened right up," Whitelaw said, set up by Rich Zajeski's 48-yard kickoff return.

"I didn't have to go past anyone, I just ran in the end zone. Great blocking, great call. It was as easy as that."

Between a rainy first half and Waubonsie linebackers Spencer Merritt and Chris Galovic holding Hinsdale Central to 2 second-quarter rushing yards, little was easy.

Red Devils coach Mike DiMatteo sought a spark.

"We knew we had to come out and we had to run that particular play," he said. "We knew we had to at least establish that play. We kind of got away from it first half."

Mitch Ewald's 31-yard field goal had Waubonsie Valley within 12-10 at 5:38 of the third quarter.

But Waubonsie Valley (7-3) lost quarterback Tyler Castro to a knee injury early in the fourth quarter on a sack by Hinsdale Central nose tackle Pat Clegg, who joined Ryan Larkin, Ben Hartzman and Mike Owens in helping hold Waubonsie to 84 total yards, 19 passing.

"Seeing your second-year quarterback -- and friend -- go down, it's definitely not a thing you like," said Warriors guard Brett Einbecker. "It kind of hit us that this could be really bad."

A lost fumble and Red Devils linebacker Ryan Murphy's second interception nixed any Warriors rally.

Hinsdale Central, which last year upset Neuqua Valley in its playoff opener, owned the first quarter. The Red Devils took 15 plays to go 62 yards and score on Davis Kalsbeek's 3-yard catch. The kick failed, for a 6-0 score.

In the second quarter Merritt blocked a punt and Nate Lorance recovered at the Hinsdale Central 6-yard line. Rich Tronolone's 2-yard run and Ewald's kick had Waubonsie Valley up 7-6 at the half.

Then, like Whitelaw, that was gone.

"You've got to play every play as the most important play," said Warriors coach Paul Murphy. "Unfortunately we didn't start the second half the way we needed to."