Jones' return helps Willowbrook to win
After missing the first two games of the year due to injuries, running back Jibril Jones made his season debut for Willowbrook in Friday's football game against West Suburban Gold rival Morton. And his return sure could not have come at a better time.
Running behind by a strong offensive line of all seniors, Jones along with halfback Steven Frobel and fullback Mike McLean piled up the rushing yards to lead the Warriors to a hard-fought 28-27 victory over the host Mustangs in Berwyn.
Jones finished with 109 yards on 20 carries while Frobel ran for 103 yards on 19 carries, including a 7-yard touchdown run with 15.6 seconds left in the first half. McLean had touchdown carries of 13 and 1 yards, including the game-winning plunge with 1:13 remaining in the game.
"We knew it wasn't going to be easy so we had to come out and play hard," said Jones, a junior who is in his third year playing on the varsity squad.
"I am very happy with how we played upfront," said Willowbrook coach Mark Olson. "The key thing is having Jones back. That is a big lift for us. We were able to get that versatility. Those two running backs open things up for our fullback inside.
"I am proud of how our kids got in there, moved the pile and got positive yards."
After a sea-saw first half of two teams trading points, the Warriors (1-2, 1-0) offensive line - left tackle Randy Frankcek, left guard Kevin Carroll, center Kyle Guare, right guard Anthony Soto and right tackle Josh Rochel - really asserted their blocking prowess after halftime.
To open the third quarter, they drained 8:18 off the game clock with a long march. A 22-yard field goal by Sean Dunn capped a 15-play, 80-yard drive to give Willowbrook a 22-21 lead.
The Mustangs (1-2, 0-1), led by quarterback Carlos Vargas and wide receivers Nick Engle and Tyshaun Eaton, rallied back to score a touchdown. They missed the 2-point conversion but took a 27-22 lead with 9:16 to play in the battle.
The Warriors offensive line got after it again. With Jones and Frobel taking turns with carries, Willowbrook churned those yards again. With third-down and 5 yards to go on the Morton 6-yard line, Jones tried to get around the left corner and into the end zone, but he got drilled out of bounds and laid in pain on the sideline clutching his left calf. It turned out to be nothing more than a bad cramp, but it didn't matter as the Warriors got the first down and McLean scored two plays later to cap a 16-play drive that covered 70 yards and ran 7:55 off the clock.
"It was huge," said Morton coach George Baglione, referring to Willowbrook's clock-eating drives."
Linebacker Joe Petrancosta also had a key late interception for the Warriors. Quarterback Brad Collins also scored on a 1-yard touchdown run for Willowbook.