Downers Grove South takes down Addison Trail
Going into Saturday's football game, Downers Grove South was looking for better defensive play and host Addison Trail was looking for consistency.
Both got what they wanted, but Downers South got more and that played a big factor in a 37-21 win that like many football games in the area took two days to complete. It was the first win for the Mustangs putting them at 1-3 overall and 1-1 in the West Suburban Gold.
"We have not been able to defend the forward pass the first three games. We have not been good defensively the first three games," said Mustangs coach Mark Molinari. "Tonight the kids did a decent job."
The offense was again productive as it led 20-0 at halftime after outgaining the Blazers (2-2, 1-1) in total yardage 221-45 during the first two quarters.
"The key was practice this week. We had great preparation for the game and the o-line stepped up big time," said Downers South quarterback Riley Heavey, who kicked three field goals and ran for a touchdown.
The contest, whose starting time was moved to 6 p.m. Friday to stay ahead of the bad weather, was stopped with 1:44 left in the first quarter due to lightning and the Mustangs ahead 10-0. Jonathon Caudell-Dotson scored the first of his two touchdowns on a 59-yard run on the third play of the game and Heavey kicked a 20-yard field goal.
When play resumed Saturday, Heavey hit end zone from the 1-yard line and kicked a 35-yard field goal to give Downers South its halftime score.
"It was not a big deal (delaying the game). We had great focus this afternoon during our run through," Heavey said.
The Blazers found a spark in Darrion Conrad, who returned the opening kickoff in the second half 73 yards to put Addison Trail on the scoreboard for the first time.
The Mustangs' Tyree Johnson rushed for a 6-yard score with just over three minutes left in the third quarter. On the Blazers' subsequent possession, Michael Hundley ran 70 yards for Addison Trail's first touchdown on offense for the contest.
With just over a minute left in the contest, quarterback Ryan Zygowicz found Stevan Jones for a 6-yard scoring connection for Addison Trail's final points.
"We need to be more consistent. But we figured things out and put some drives together," said Blazers coach Paul Parpet Jr. "The key was Downers Grove South made plays at the time they needed to and we didn't. But we'll keep working and getting better."