Just like old times as Hilltopper earn semifinal berth
Bryant Venson wasn't even the proverbial gleam in his mother's eye the last time Glenbard West reached a football state semifinal game.
As he celebrates his 19th birthday today he'll take pride knowing he helped the Hilltoppers earn their first state semifinal berth since their championship season of 1983.
Venson's touchdown runs of 50 and 32 yards paced Glenbard West's 35-7 victory Friday over Class 7A quarterfinal host Downers Grove North.
With the 3-5 defense of No. 1 seed Glenbard West (12-0) holding No. 7 Downers North to 25 yards through three quarters, it wasn't much different from the Hilltoppers' 35-0 West Suburban Silver win over the Trojans on Oct. 11.
"We just wanted to play our game and not change anything, because playing a team a second time really doesn't mean anything. The better team will win," said Venson, who gained 96 yards on 6 carries.
"We play hard, so we just got to figure that we have to jump on them quick, and that's what we did."
On a grass field pounded into a muddy pulp between the hash marks, Downers North (7-5) gained a first down on its first possession, then fumbled the ball away.
The fact that the Trojans had some success fired up the Hilltoppers defense, which on Oct. 11 didn't allow Downers North a first down in its first seven series.
"That got us a little upset," said defensive end Pat Loveless. "We came back and stopped them on the next drive."
That they did, and on Glenbard West's second possession Robert Cook bounced outside for a 61-yard touchdown run at 3:43 of the first quarter.
Downers North lost a second fumble at its own 9-yard line. Tyler Warden capitalized with a 3-yard quarterback sneak for a 14-0 Hilltoppers lead after the first quarter.
The defense, which didn't face a forward pass all night from Trojans quarterback Dan Sheppard, held again and Venson broke a counter run 61 yards through linemen Chris Watt, Tim O'Neil and Mike Dixson. Venson's 32-yard touchdown run at 2:19 of the second quarter gave Glenbard West a 28-0 halftime lead.
Muddy field or not, Cook and Venson impressed Hilltoppers coach Chad Hetlet, who also celebrates his birthday today.
"Every week I see them they do something special," Hetlet said. "The field is in really bad condition, but they made it look like they were playing on artificial turf."
The Hilltoppers' starting quarterback, Chris Cochrane, teamed with Jessie Condie on a 39-yard touchdown pass for a 35-0 lead at 5:43 of the third quarter.
That left little more than speculation over which of today's quarterfinalists, East St. Louis or St. Rita, gets to play next Saturday in Glen Ellyn.
"Whoever we play next week, we can't wait," said offensive tackle Chris Watt. "We're back on our home field. It's Duchon, so we don't lose on Duchon."
Downers North, a Cinderella squad that scored with 4:33 left on a run by Jermal Jones for 43 of his 89 yards, hadn't lost since the prior game at Glenbard West, taking down Wheaton Warrenville South along the way.
"What this group did nobody expected them to do," said Trojans coach John Wander. "They were doubted, they proved everybody wrong, they played over their shoes. I'm really proud of them."