Brodner, Glenbard West pound Downers Grove North
Sam Brodner ran Saturday like a man trying desperately to live the Glenbard West football team's "Hitters" nickname to the fullest.
So did the Hilltoppers' defense.
Brodner ran for 2 touchdowns and 204 yards and the Glenbard West defense pitched a shutout in a 38-0 West Suburban Silver victory in Glen Ellyn.
"We expect him to be pretty special," Hilltoppers coach Chad Hetlet said of the 5-foot-11, 210-pound junior running back, who sat out last season with a stress fracture. "He's a pounder, too. He's a big kid that can do a lot of different things. He's a good receiver. I think he's a really special player, I do. I think he's got all the potential in the world, and he's going to continue to work hard. But I think he's got a chance to be one of those top recruits coming out next year. I think he's special, I really do."
Brodner carried the ball just 13 times, but he went for 10 yards or more on 7 of those carries, breaking tackles along the way.
"He's even better than I thought," Trojans coach John Wander said. "We watched him on film and thought he was great. He's a tough put-together kid."
Glenbard West defensive end Declan Ryan can vouch for how tough Brodner is, having to face him during the week in practice.
"Well, he's hard to tackle, that's for sure," Ryan said. "He's a strong kid. He's done a lot in the weight room. He's definitely earned it."
Ryan, and his defensive teammates, impressed Wander also.
"He's a load," Wander said of Ryan. "He can handle one side of the line on his own. When you've got one guy who can handle one side and then put the other two on the other, well, option football doesn't look too good."
Brodner outgained Downers Grove North by himself, with the Trojans earning just 173 total yards. Glenbard West totaled 407.
"We always talk shutout every week," Ryan said. "Obviously, we let a couple get through us, but I thought overall we played well."
"We got into their territory, but nothing of any signficance," Wander said.
Brodner's 2 TDs gave the Hilltoppers a 14-0 lead after one quarter, and Sean Mackey added a 12-yard TD run in the second quarter. Parker Esposito nailed a 43-yard field goal, and quarterback Kyle Kramer found Ben Marcus for a 59-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. Donahvon Vaughn ended the scoring with a 12-yard run in the fourth.
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