Glenbard East shuts out West Aurora
It was a fry cry from the last time Glenbard East played West Aurora in football.
In the teams’ final game as members of the DuPage Valley Conference, Glenbard East, which surrendered over 50 points to the Blackhawks when they ended the regular season last fall, was utterly miserly on defense in a 21-0 victory Friday night in Aurora.
“We were able to control the game, control the clock,” Glenbard East coach John Walters said. “Our defense was just phenomenal.”
Drake Pusateri was the conductor of the Rams’ ball-control offense.
The junior quarterback displayed efficiency and an off-the-charts football IQ in directing the Rams on consecutive scoring drives late in the first quarter and midway through the second quarter.
West Aurora (1-2) had few options in disrupting the chemistry between Pusateri and wide receiver Javon York.
On the signature play of the game, York hauled in a one-handed 14-yard touchdown catch to help stake the Rams to a 14-0 lead at the intermission.
“I saw the matchup,” said Pusateri, who capped the Rams’ initial scoring drive with a keeper from 9 yards out. “Javon is one of the best athletes I have ever played with. I just threw it up there. I knew he would get it.”
York also had an interception in playing both ways for the Rams (2-1).
It was the defense that told the story for Glenbard East.
West Aurora finished with 150 yards for the entire game.
The Blackhawks’ best chance for scoring — an over eight-minute march to begin the second half — was foiled when defensive back Tommy Mogavero stoned a West Aurora ball-carrier for less than half of the fourth-down West Aurora needed.
“I just came in from the edge,” said Mogavero, who stopped Jonathan Doyle at the Rams’ 5-yard line.
“We just didn’t execute on that play,” West Aurora coach Nate Eimer said. “We thought the toss was a good call.”
By reversing the field-position trend of the opening half, West Aurora would have quality starting spots for much of the second half.
But Glenbard East simply refused to yield much territory.
Breakdowns, penalties and the relentless Glenbard East attitude on defense repeatedly stymied West Aurora in the second half.
With all but no option but going on fourth-and-10 from deep in his own territory, Eimer threw the dice.
Glenbard East took over on downs after the four consecutive incomplete West Aurora pass, and Dominic Wilberton salted the game away by carrying three straight times to score the final touchdown of the Rams’ shutout win.
Pusateri finished with 134 yards passing and another 54 on the ground.
“The O line did their job,” Pusateri said. “They did what they were supposed to do.”