Glenbard North running game measures up
Glenbard North's season-opening loss came only two weeks ago, but Tyler Doll and the Panthers made it seem like a world away on a mud-filled Friday night in Carol Stream.
In a measuring stick football game for the DuPage Valley Conference, Doll rushed for 285 yards and 4 touchdowns and Glenbard North began its DVC season by rolling to a 35-14 win over previously unbeaten Wheaton North.
The story of the game was Doll running at will behind punishing fullback Jordan Brooks and a magnificent offensive line returning only one starter from last season.
"With the weather like this everyone knows you're going to come out running the ball," Doll said. "The defense had to be thinking run and the offense was still giving us holes all game long."
But while Doll controlled the game by carrying the ball 38 times - including scoring runs of 2, 43, 25 and 37 yards - as much ink should go to the defense that limited Northwestern-bound Falcons running back Mike Trumpy to 101 yards and a 57-yard scoring run.
The defensive line featuring anchors Kyle Schwetz and Charleston Soko made its presence felt from the opening snap. Not only did the trench men help hold Trumpy more than 100 yards under his 200-yard totals from the previous two games, their quarterback pressure forced Taylor Graham into 1-of-14 passing on the night.
A constant rain and slippery conditions may have accounted for some of the struggles, but Glenbard North's defense deserves a trunk load of credit.
"Outstanding, great execution all around," said Schwetz, who had a sack and a tackle for loss. "The defensive line was stunning. We stopped Trumpy - he's a great running back, too. The linebackers filled gaps, made tackles. And the secondary did an amazing job all around."
That pretty much covers it in terms of the defense, which still managed to be overshadowed by Doll's effort.
Panthers coach Ryan Wilkens has emphasized the ground game ever since that opening loss to Bartlett, and in two games the offense has responded with Doll's 493 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Northwestern-bound Panthers quarterback Evan Watkins only had to throw the ball five times on Friday, but he also added 86 rushing yards and a 27-yard touchdown.
The offensive switch definitely has been turned on since Week 1.
"We're just going week to week, so we don't really like to think about it," Doll said of the Bartlett loss. "We just have to keep focusing on every opponent."
A six-minute first-quarter drive led to a 7-0 lead for the Panthers (2-1, 1-0), but Trumpy's 57-yarder tied it. Doll's 43-yard scoring run put the Panthers ahead 14-7 at the half.
Sparked by a 38-yard punt return by the Falcons' Jack DeAno, Graham capped a 3-play, 15-yard drive with a 1-yard keeper and a 14-14 game.
It was all Glenbard North the remainder of the third quarter - 13 running plays and a pair of touchdowns. After the Falcons (2-1, 1-0) struggled through their third straight three-and-out, Doll added the final touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Of the Falcons' 97 total yards of offense, only 23 came after halftime - all from Trumpy.
Just as Glenbard North rediscovered itself after a jolting loss, Wheaton North must now do the same thing.
"I truly do think that we can learn some things from this game," said Falcons coach Joe Wardynski. "We've got a long way to go."