Zajeski, Hinsdale Central off and running
Earlier this week Hinsdale Central football coach Mike DiMatteo said Rich Zajeski is the type of tailback who can turn a 15-yard run into a 60-yard run. He wasn't fooling.
Zajeski's first carry Friday night at Harvey Dickinson Field - his first since sustaining a high ankle sprain in Week 7 - went 62 yards for a touchdown. The fourth time he ran the ball he went 67 yards to score.
Knocking No. 1 seed Bolingbrook on its heels in Hinsdale, No. 9 Hinsdale Central breezed to a 35-14 Class 8A second-round victory.
"In practice you run on it and everything, but you can never simulate a game in practice. Yeah, (the left ankle) felt good," said Zajeski, who had a little Vince Lombardi in him after running 12 times for 177 yards.
"If everyone does our job on every play we could have touchdowns like that on every single play," he said, "no matter what the defense is doing."
After Zajeski's first sprint off a block from right tackle Collin Watkins, the Red Devils' defense stuffed Bolingbrook's fourth-and-6 inches try.
A 13-yard pass to Mick Culligan from quarterback John Whitelaw, then Zajeski's 29-yard run set up Jake Knowles' 1-yard dive through right guard Jack Curatolo and Watkins. David Lutz's kick gave Hinsdale Central a quick 14-0 lead at 4:23 of the first quarter.
"As you see, he's a major difference-maker for us," DiMatteo said of Zajeski, who improved on his 13.1 yards per carry.
"Instead of everybody being able to lock down on John and some of our wideouts, now they've got to contend with John and Rich in the same backfield. That's a nice combination for us."
As is the defense/offense duo for Hinsdale Central (9-2), advancing to its first quarterfinal since 2005 against the winner of today's game between Brother Rice and Belleville East.
Brendan Sullivan snuffed a reverse to force Bolingbrook (10-1) to punt and Zajeski took off again, 67 yards for a 21-0 lead at 11:40 of the second quarter.
Watkins didn't need to elaborate on the schemes needed to spring Zajeski.
"It's Richie making a play," said Watkins, also a senior.
Forced to pass, Bolingbrook quarterback Brad Geever hit Anthony Green for a 34-yard touchdown to cut the Raiders' deficit to 21-14.
Whitelaw answered, either passing or running on each of a 5-play, 54-yard drive that ended with his 5-yard touchdown run for a 28-7 lead.
Lutz's interception before halftime maintained the red-and-white momentum. It kept rolling when Eric Alexander recovered a fumble on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter.
Whitelaw had runs of 15 and 23 yards to set up his second touchdown of the night, an 8-yard jaunt.
"Just so many weapons all the way around, it reminded us of some other teams we've faced over the years, like a Naperville (North) last year," Bolingbrook coach John Ivlow said.
Geever, who completed 18 of 26 passes for 275 yards, threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Chris Williams with 7:12 left to play. Uncharacteristically committing 3 turnovers with a blocked punt while being out-rushed 309-11, Bolingbrook got no further.
"The (offensive) line did great again, great blocking by the receivers," said Whitelaw, who had 122 yards on 21 carries. "Everything was clicking - the defense was phenomenal."