Addison Trail's wait is over

From the moment its football schedule was announced, Addison Trail's collective eyes turned to Week 9. The annual showdown against Downers Grove South jumped off the slate.

The waiting game ended for the Blazers (8-1, 6-0) on Friday when they pulled out a 20-14 win to claim their first West Suburban Gold Conference title since 2006.

After eight long weeks, the celebration on Addison Trail's field understandably lasted until well after the game ended.

For the Blazers, though, the championship didn't just boil down to the win over Downers South (8-1, 5-1). According to coach Paul Parpet it was the culmination of a nine-week process.

“You've still got to play eight weeks before you get to this point,” Parpet said. “I thought we did what we had to do to get here.”

Addison Trail, which suffered its lone loss to unbeaten Glenbard West in Week 7, was bound for the playoffs regardless of Friday's result against the previously-unbeaten Mustangs.

Losing a fifth straight game to Downers South, though, would have been a tough pill to swallow.

“No more moral victories from here on out,” Parpet said.