Potter’s big hit sets tone in Downers Grove South’s lopsided win over Willowbrook

Downers Grove South junior Luke Potter is an impact player.

But Potter, a talented multisport athlete, is making his name on the baseball field.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder earned MVP for the Mustangs in the spring by batting .418 with 46 hits, 26 RBI and 36 runs, while tying a single-season program record with 17 doubles. A left-hander outfielder, Potter is among the best baseball players in the state for his class level.

On Friday night, the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, Potter showed off his skills on the football field. He set the tone on defense with a thundering hit for a 5-yard loss on the first play from scrimmage.

“I saw the screen coming, shed the block and set the tone,” Potter said of his first tackle of the game.

But that was just the beginning of the night for Potter, who was moved earlier this week from nickelback to outside linebacker for the Week 4 game at Willowbrook.

“I’m doing well in baseball and starting to do good after all these games in football,” Potter said. “It feels amazing to do well in football. My baseball abilities and athleticism are showing out here and in both sports. We had a strong team game.”

Led by a strong defense and big-play offense, Downers Grove South posted a 42-7 win over Willowbrook in West Suburban Gold Division play in Villa Park. The Mustangs (3-1, 2-0) scored a touchdown on three of their first four first-half possessions to seize control of the key league game.

Potter, a first-year starter, led the charge on defense. He made three pivotal defensive plays on one drive by the Warriors midway through the second quarter. Potter notched a deflection, used his speed to blow up the line on a blitz for an 8-yard sack and recovered a fumble.

Potter wasn’t the only Downers Grove South player having a memorable game. Sophomore defensive back T.J. Jackson intercepted two passes to add to the Mustangs’ strong defensive game. Teammate Giovanni Vazquez added a pick to supply the defense with four interceptions, a fumble recovery and two sacks.

“It feels great because I’ve been working hard,” Jackson said of his first two career INTs. “I keep working and its starting to show up. The defense kept playing with confidence and kept playing hard.”

Offensively, the Mustangs rode the rocket right arm of junior quarterback James Sobkowiak. The 6-3, 165-pound slung missiles all over the field, compiling 139 yards passing in the first half. Sobkowiak, also an elite baseball player, tossed a 43-yard pass to wide receiver Nathan Thurston on his first attempt and hit Antonio Evans Jr. for a 30-yard scoring strike to give his team a 20-0 lead with 2:04 left until halftime.

Sobkowiak completed 14-of-17 passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns.

Downers Grove South’s Thurston had a monster game, hauling in passes from all angles form Sobkowiak, finishing with five receptions for 79 yards. Senior running back Forest Bates also was a thorn for the Warriors all game, scoring on a 5-yard TD and catching a 9-yard touchdown pass. Bates ran the ball 16 times for 98 yards and caught two passes for 16 yards. Evans got into the act with four receptions for 76 yards and two TDs, including a stellar over-the-shoulder 46-yard catch late in the third quarter.

The Warriors (2-2, 1-1) fell victim to a host of mistakes and turnovers, but junior wide receiver Adam Hajyasin was a bright spot. He caught six passes for 83 yards, and Kamron Greenhow scored on a 1-yard TD plunge in the second quarter.