Maine S. hits Red Devils hard

CHAMPAIGN - Hinsdale Central beat four higher seeds to get there, but in the Class 8A championship Maine South was a little too much.

Twice denying Hinsdale Central prime first-half scoring opportunities in its championship debut, Maine South used the momentum to win 41-21 at Memorial Stadium, adding to its 2000 Class 6A title and 1995 Class 5A title.

A quarterback showcase, Hinsdale Central junior John Whitelaw ran for 139 yards and threw for 262 yards and 2 touchdowns, both to 140-yard receiver Alex Kirk.

Maine South senior quarterback Charlie Goro ran 26 times for an 8A title-game record 164 yards, while tailback Matt Perez added 119 yards and 3 touchdowns.

"We wanted to be able to throw it," said Maine South coach David Inserra, "but we knew we had to run the ball against them, and that's what was working. Once we got the lead we wanted to run the clock a bit, too."

Maine South (14-0) led 14-7 in the second quarter when Whitelaw threw deep to Mick Culligan, bound for the end zone. Sam Chwarzynski dragged Culligan down at the Hawks' 13-yard line, and Hinsdale Central (11-3) couldn't convert.

Goro scored on a 37-yard run on Maine South's next possession and took that 21-7 lead into halftime, stopping Hinsdale Central's ensuing 14-play drive short at the Hawks' 4-yard line.

"Any time you're in a championship situation teams are going to take advantage of that and it's going to leave you out in the cold," said Hinsdale Central coach Mike DiMatteo. "The game could have easily been tied up at 21 at the half or at least 21-14."

Shortly after halftime Maine South's Joey Orlando returned a fumble 78 yards for a 28-7 lead at 5:30 of the third quarter. Whitelaw answered with a 4-yard touchdown run and threw for a 30-yard score to Kirk in the fourth quarter, but with Culligan and tailback Rich Zajeski suffering injuries the deficit was too great.

"I'm going to miss the seniors a lot," said Whitelaw, who completed 17 of 29 passes. "We've become like brothers. I've never spent more time with guys in my life, I spent the whole summer with them and really got to know them. It's going to be a lot different next year without them."