Downers South doesn't give Addison Trail a chance
It's not often you hear of a herd of Mustangs heading out on the hunt, but that's exactly what Downers Grove South football coach John Belskis implored his team to do Friday night against Addison Trail.
Belskis stressed the importance of a quick start against the Blazers, and save for a first-quarter turnover, the Mustangs gave him everything he asked for. Downers Grove South scored on its first possession of the game, led 27-0 by halftime and left Addison with a 40-0 shutout.
"(Addison Trail) had a lot to play for tonight, and so we asked our kids to be hunters tonight," Belskis said.
Downers Grove South (6-2, 5-0 West Suburban Gold) needed just three plays on its opening drive to find the endzone, employing some trickery to aid the cause. On second-and-eight from their own 47-yard line, Mustangs quarterback Chandler Whitmer fired a screen pass to Ryan Oruche, who promptly rifled the ball right back to Whitmer for a 33-yard gain and Whitmer's first reception of the season.
Senior running back Reggie Miller ran 14 yards on the Mustangs next play from scrimmage to give the visitors a 7-0 lead.
"We worked on it this week, and it worked well," a smiling Whitmer said. "I wish I could have gotten into the end zone.
"I felt like Jason (Jozaites) out there."
Jozaites led all receivers with 4 catches, 86 yards and 2 touchdowns, the second score coming on a 51-yard bomb down the middle of the field to give Downers Grove South the 40-point advantage.
Friday gave the two seniors another chance to solidify their relationship between the lines.
"We have an awesome chemistry, on the field and off the field," Jozaites said. "We practice all the time; any opportunity we have to throw the ball around we're doing it."
Downers Grove South ended the Blazers' hopes before halftime when Whitmer found Tom Janowiak down the right sideline with less than 10 seconds remaining. Instead of stepping out of bounds to preserve the clock, Janowiak slipped through a pair of would-be Addison Trail tacklers and sprinted downfield for a 64-yard touchdown.
As has been the case several times this season, Addison Trail (3-5, 3-2) coach Paul Parpet received a word of congratulations from the opposing sideline after the game in honor of his 29 years coaching the Blazers.
"We've been competing against each other for 30 years," Parpet said. "There's a mutual respect, and we wish them well in the playoffs."
Having clinched a spot in the playoffs with its sixth victory of the year, Downers Grove South will again be hunting next week against Morton, this time for an outright WSG crown and the chance to possibly host a first-round playoff game.