Glenbard West cruises to win

Having fought just to reach the playoffs, Glenbard West coach Chad Hetlet feared a first-round letdown.

Reavis had no such luck.

In Saturday's Class 7A football game in Burbank, No. 6 seed Glenbard West overpowered its third-seeded host, winning 41-8.

"We were up for the LT (Lyons Twp.) game, we were up for the Hinsdale (Central) game," Hetlet said.

"It's tough to do that, it really is. But our kids keep getting up for games. They believe. They should."

Initiating a running clock on fullback Kane Keirnan's 12-yard run for a 41-0 lead at 8:59 of the third quarter, Glenbard West (6-4) rolls into the Sweet Sixteen as host to No. 2 seed Morgan Park, a 41-0 victor over Wheaton North.

"I think we showed we're not satisfied just making the playoffs," Keirnan said. "We want to play to the best of our potential every game."

The staff of 9-1 Morgan Park saw Glenbard West in the first half gain 354 yards of offense and take a 35-0 lead while holding Reavis' Rams to 30 yards and 1 first down.

"We play our brand of football, and it's just straight at them," two-way tackle Brad Krumwiede said. "There's not much else to it, just go right at them."

The Hilltoppers began with a 5-play drive capped by Bryant Venson's 28-yard touchdown run.

Garrett Richards and J.D. Macleary recovered Reavis fumbles on successive series. Venson added touchdown runs of 9, 51 and 32 yards. He left early in the third quarter with 168 yards on 10 carries.

"We didn't start off the way we would have liked to. So it kind of started to snowball," said Reavis coach John McDonough, lacking injured 1,100-yard back Max Nunez.

Nunez's hurt knee may have hurt the Rams' psyche.

"When they took the field they were not ready for us," Richards said. "They were just standing all loose, their eyes were wide."

After the Venson show, quarterback Andrew Baldwin threw a screen to Keirnan for a 67-yard score, escorted by linemen Krumwiede, Shawn Rhear, Eric Orrison and Marty Detmer.

On the ground Keirnan's inside power for 90 yards on 12 carries balanced Venson and Robert Cook, who gained 51 yards on 6 carries.

"They started pursuing to the outside and that's when Kane would just gut them real good," Venson said. "Then they would shift inside and I would get them to the outside."

Reavis (7-3) scored with 1:07 left on a 29-yard pass to Sobhi Ibrahim from Andrzej Waclaw.

-- David Oberhelman

Montini 14, Sycamore 3:ŒMontini can still run the football.

Montini switched to a spread offense from the triple option in the off-season, but when the Broncos needed it most, the run was still there for them Saturday in Lombard.

The run was there, and Dex Jones was gone. Up the middle and then down the right sideline, 90 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to finally salt away a 14-3 Class 5A playoff-opening victory against a Sycamore team that earned the Broncos' respect.

"I think it was a 34 trap and (senior lineman) Zack Shuta just made an awesome trap and there was just a wide-open hole," said Jones, a Wisconsin-bound senior. "The blocks were as best as can be and I just picked a hole and ran it. … Most of the credit for that big run goes to the offensive line. They really did the best on that."

"We had a guy in the hole and we just missed the tackle," Sycamore coach Joe Ryan said. "But it was a physical war. You wear down, and those tackles are probably made in the first quarter. Fourth quarter, it becomes a little bit more difficult, especially with a running back like Jones."

Jones totaled 206 yards on 15 carries for the game, and Johnny Borsellino added another 85 yards on 9 carries, but the Sycamore defense held firm when it had to. Montini (9-1) did itself no favors either, with 10 penalties for 90 yards.

"Penalties really killed us in the first half, and I think we took care of that in the second half and I think that really made the difference in the game," Jones said.

Montini started the second quarter with a 7-play drive that ended with quarterback Tom DiCristina passing to wideout Brian Zirko in the right corner of the end zone.

"That was a great catch," Montini coach Chris Andriano said. "That was one of the best catches I've seen. Not just this year, but all-time. That was a great catch. Finger tip. Laid out for it. That's wanting the ball. He did."

Sycamore (5-5) answered with a seven-minute drive, making the score 7-3 on a Josh Howells 25-yard field goal.

That's where it stood until Jones broke loose in the fourth quarter following a Sean Cahill interception on a fourth- and-6 play.

"We played our tails off against a really good team and went toe-to-toe," Ryan told reporters. "I don't think any one of you, if I'd called you this week, probably thought we had much of a chance, and there's probably not a lot of people who thought we did."

Montini survives for a rematch with Suburban Catholic Conference rival Marian Central. Montini won the regular-season matchup 33-0 in Week 7, but Marian is expected to have quarterback Jon Budmayr healthy for this game. Montini will host the game, which probably will be played Saturday afternoon.

-- Orrin Schwarz

Driscoll 47, Bishop McNamara 19:ŒBefore its first round matchup against Bishop McNamara, Driscoll's football team had never in 33 years squared off against a Chicago Catholic League opponent.

The Highlanders took full advantage of their first shot, burying the Fighting Irish 47-19 to advance to the second round of the Class 4A playoffs.

The Highlanders made it clear from the outset they could more than hold their own against Bishop McNamara, scoring on their first two drives of the game.

After senior David Schwabe scored from 24 yards out on a quarterback keeper to open the game, the Highlanders (10-0) recovered an onside kick and marched 38 yards downfield for their second score -- all before Bishop McNamara had a chance to touch the ball.

Despite its current streak of six consecutive IHSA titles, Driscoll felt it lacked the proper respect coming into the game.

"We had the right attitude from the get-go, because they're from the Chicago Catholic League and they're the big dogs and stuff, so we wanted to show we could get some respect from them too," Schwabe said.

After surrendering an Anthony Grant touchdown late in the first quarter, Driscoll found itself facing another efficient McNamara drive that led the Fighting Irish to Driscoll's 40-yard line. The Highlanders held tough on fourth down, then swung the momentum back in their favor by driving 60 yards in two plays for a 19-6 advantage.

"The last couple weeks we've had opportunities to put daggers in our opponents and we failed to do that," Driscoll coach Mike Burzawa said. "This week we wanted to make sure we capitalized on our opportunities. We just had the right situation with the wind and things … and we were able to get that touchdown."

From the time Grant's touchdown cut the Driscoll lead to 6 points until four minutes remained in the third quarter, the Highlanders reeled off 35 unanswered points, all but assuring Driscoll its 10th win of the year.

"We came out razor sharp today, and that's what we've been looking for," Burzawa said. "We've actually struggled a little bit offensively the last couple of weeks. We weren't putting up the points, so today we wanted to come out and make it a point to smell the end zone and put the ball in the end zone.

"That's what we emphasized this week and that's what the boys did."

Driscoll stayed balanced on offense all game. Schwabe completed 10 passes for 188 yards and 2 touchdowns, while senior Tim Franken led the rushing attack with 161 yards and 4 scores.

-- Matthew McClarey