Downers Grove S. 49, Willowbrook 14

Willowbrook's defense worked hard to force Downers Grove South's potent offense into third-down situations Friday night in Villa Park.

But Chandler Whitmer, the Mustangs' agile sophomore quarterback, delivered under pressure and led his team to a 49-14 win in their West Suburban Gold football opener.

"(Whitmer) is a talented player," Downers South coach John Belskis said. "We had some people who caught the ball and some people who blocked tonight. We showed some good balance on offense, and we put ourselves in a position where other teams have to chase us."

Whitmer completed 4 passes for 106 yards and 2 touchdowns in the first half -- all coming on third down.

"You've got to know how to get the first down," Whitmer said. "You need to read the defense and know what they're doing."

Whitmer's first completion to Wes Manzer, a 49-yard bomb with just more than five minutes to go in the opening quarter, set up a 1-yard run by Tyler West for the game's first score.

Manzer, who caught 4 passes for 135 yards and 2 touchdowns, outjumped two defenders and came down with a 24-yard touchdown reception to extend the Mustangs' lead to 14-0 with just over a minute left in the first quarter.

"I wasn't expecting to get the pass, but I just jumped for it," Manzer said.

The Warriors (3-1, 0-1) needed just two plays to respond as Kevin Pohl found Milton Colbert across the middle. The big senior then broke a pair of tackles and outran the defense for a 71-yard touchdown.

"They jumped on us, but we didn't give in," Willowbrook coach Mark Olson said. "I don't think the score reflects how we played."

Whitman connected with Ben Apland on an 18-yard toss in the second quarter to stake his team to a 21-7 lead at the break.

The Mustangs (4-0, 1-0) opened the second half with a stunning 3-play drive capped by Jared Culver's 5-yard run into the end zone.

Senior running back Wayne Bolden gave the Warriors a bit of hope when he scored from 2 yards out and cut the deficit to 28-14 with 2:41 left in the third quarter.

But it was all Mustangs after that as Manzer scored on another pass from Whitman and West sealed the win with his second interception of the game.

"Our coaches came up with some schemes to stop (Colbert), and it worked," West said.