Hinsdale Central takes down York

KeVon Robinson is about as positive a guy as you'll find on a football field.

Take Saturday afternoon. In the waning moments of his York football team's 35-13 loss to host Hinsdale Central, there he was on the sidelines, clapping his hands and exhorting his teammates to keep on going.

Forget the score. Keep those heads held high. Better days are ahead.

"It's an encouragement thing," said Robinson, who had 81 yards rushing on 13 carries. "When you get down when the other team scores, you get quiet. You've got to keep moving, you've got to keep clapping, you've got to keep encouraging. You can't give up. Football is a momentum game."

Forty-nine of Robinson's yards were earned in York's first possession, an 80-yard march in 6:09 that culminated in a 5-yard run by senior quarterback Joe Javorek. Anthony Lapiana's extra point tied the score 7-7 early in the second quarter.

But York only got the ball once the rest of the period, which ended with Javorek getting intercepted by Hinsdale Central's Owen Goss.

Down 14-7 entering the second half, things didn't get any easier for the Dukes (2-3, 1-2 West Suburban Silver). After a punt on its opening possession of the half, the next two possessions were an interception and a fumble lost.

When the Dukes did score again, on an 8-yard pass play from senior quarterback Daniel Dunn to senior Josiah Scott, the Red Devils had the game well in hand at 28-13.

Still, don't get the impression that the Dukes are flustered.

"You know, each week on Monday after the game, we don't let anything keep us down," said senior linebacker Zane Heemsoth. "We know we have to move forward. There's nothing we can do about that last game, so we have to keep our heads up and keep fighting."

Sounds like Robinson, doesn't he? But that's the vibe that new coach Mike Fitzgerald has instilled in the York program after a few years coaching quarterbacks at Naperville North. That, along with acceptance of responsibility, starting with him.

"It just comes down to execution and turnovers," Fitzgerald said of Saturday's contest. "Turnovers killed us today and that starts with me. You've got to own it as coaches first, and I've got to get these guys ready to play on the offensive side of the ball."

Turnovers were indeed a problem for York, as Javorek and Dunn each got picked off twice. Plus, there was that lost fumble with 4:57 left in the third quarter on the Dukes' own 25.

As for Hinsdale Central (4-1, 3-0), senior quarterback Matt Rush led the homecoming festivities with 5 touchdown passes, including 3 to senior receiver Nick Beaulieu, from 27, 30 and 31 yards.

"He throws a really nice deep ball, and he's been getting better and better the past three years, Hinsdale Central coach Dan Hartman said. "He's starting to finally put it all together and he's becoming one our big-time leaders on offense."

Hartman also added that starting running back Luke Skokna is not likely to return this season after an ACL injury sustained Week 1 against Naperville North.