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Addison Trail offers a counterpunch

Addison Trail was not fazed in the least bit.

Trailing a Hinsdale Central team that pulled off a major upset last week against Bollingbrook, which entered the season as the Chicago area's top-ranked team, the Blazers showed what kind of team they are.

Fueled by a smashmouth defense that was flying all over the field, Addison Trail scored 18 unanswered points to capture a hard-fought 18-10 victory over the visiting Red Devils in Addison. Linebacker Eric Gilliam led the way with an interception and two fumble recoveries. Linebacker Zach Atiyeh also had an interception.

Atiyeh, linebacker Brandon Webb and defensive linemen Josh Madrigal and Robert Rinaldi were especially disruptive in the backfield too.

“We are aggressive,” Gilliam said. “We get out there and punch people in the mouth and fly to the ball. They have nowhere to go. We were not going to stop until the fourth quarter ended.”

“Turnovers were key in a game of this caliber,” said Addison Trail coach Paul Parpet Jr. “That helped get our offensive game going.

Early on it was Hinsdale Central (1-1) that was rolling, out to a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Quarterback Matt Rafferty was picking the Blazers secondary apart with some timely throws and halfback Juwan Edmond found some nice holes for big gains. Edmond scored on a 9-yard run following a 23-yard field goal by Blake Hatley.

Addison Trail (2-0) kept plugging away and the offensive line of Josh Broschinsky, Karim Fuentes, Andrew Lopez, Jose Acencion and Tyler Schroeder-Zelek started opening nice holes in the middle for power back Malik Pierre-Louis who churned up some big yards. Four plays after Atiyeh's interception, Pierre-Louis scored from 9 yards out with 3:29 to play in the second quarter. Then wideout Javvion Bradley linked up with quarterback Mike Rybarczyk worked a sweet fade pass play for a 30-yard touchdown catch with only 3.4 seconds before halftime.

“I knew the offense was going to do some good run plays,” said Pierre-Louis, who finished with 133 yards on 26 carries. “I knew we were going to come together.”

In the fourth quarter they Blazers got some breathing room. After Gilliam's interception Pierre-Louis scored from 1 yard out. On that interception Hinsdale Central's Rafferty was injured. His coach, Dan Hartman, said after the game that it was an ankle sprain.

The Blazers worked some nice misdirection plays and a bit of trickery too. They drew the Red Devils offsides three times, leading to first downs.

“(The Blazers) came at us and played their game,” Hartman said. “Their defense was flying around. They have some hard-nosed kids.”

Images: Addison Trail vs. Hinsdale Central Football

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