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Downers Grove South slows Proviso East

Starting junior lineman Nathan Gustafson and the Downers Grove South football team's defense had plenty to prove Friday against high-scoring Proviso East.

When the Pirates scored on the game's first possession, the defense simply got tougher.

"We knew this (Proviso East) team was a little different. They have some new coaches, new players. We knew they were going to come out ready to ball," said Gustafson, who had two first-half sacks.

"Our job was to shut it down in the first half and continue that in the second half."

After the defense held, the Mustangs showed plenty of offensive fireworks themselves for a 39-23 homecoming and West Suburban Conference Gold victory in Downers Grove.

The Mustangs (2-2, 1-1 in Gold) are 2-2 for the first time since 2014, the last time they reached the playoffs.

The Mustangs answered the early deficit with three unanswered touchdowns en route to a 26-15 halftime lead. They then scored twice in the third quarter to put the game away.

Proviso East entered the game scoring 105 points - a 35-point average - and the most among WSC Gold teams by 45 points. The Pirates would have been held to two scores until a 49-yard TD run with 1:35 left and the outcome basically decided.

In last week's showdown at defending Gold champion Willowbrook, the Warriors scored 29 unanswered points for a 32-15 victory after the Mustangs led 15-3 in the third quarter.

"Our defense last week didn't play very well in the second half didn't play very well. We had a great first half versus Willowbrook," Downers South coach Mark Molinari said.

"They were looking to redeem themselves a little bit and came out a little shaky, but I thought our coaches did a good job of getting them under control. They have a lot of speed. They have guys that can take it to the house in a heartbeat. It's one of the better Proviso teams in the last couple of years."

The defense even contributed to the play that swung the momentum in the Mustangs' favor for good.

On the Pirates' second possession of the game, they punted from their end zone. When the snap was bobbled, the Mustangs knocked the ball loose and senior Josh Diamantos recovered the ball in the end zone for a 7-7 tie.

"Our defense was doing the right thing all at the same and I just happened to be in the right spot because the guys did their job and I did my job," Diamantos said.

"That set our defense going. We got scored on again but after that we overcame adversity. In the second half, we just locked them down."

More big plays by the Mustangs in the first half added up to more points.

Senior Jayden Lambert put the Mustangs ahead to stay 14-7 with a 37-yard end around run after quarterback Cole Warehime's 19-yard pass to Richie Pecenka on third-and 9.

Sophomore receiver Eli Reed then had his third and biggest TD so far this season with a 47-yard scoring play in which he turned quickly to reach the right sideline and broke two tackles.

"That (TD) was just yards after the catch. That was all I was looking for," Reed said. "We can throw the ball anywhere we want to. It's just whoever is open, whoever has the right timing, we throw the ball to him."

Proviso East had first-half plays of 31, 32 and 51 yards. The 51-yard run by Moses Banks set up his 1-yard score to close to 20-15, but the Mustangs answered with a 62-yard drive and Pecenka scoring on a 6-yard run after Rashon Murff's 34-yard screen catch to the 24 on third-and-6.

In the third quarter Warehime scored on a 13-yard run after a 13-yard pass to Lambert on third-and-7 and Pecenka followed with a 39-run TD run after a 14-yard carry on third-and-2.

The Mustangs are home next week for another big Gold game against Hinsdale South. That's followed by Addison Trail, Morton and Leyden, three teams currently with 1 or 0 wins that the Mustangs swept in 2018.

"We feel like we have some weapons. Our offensive line is playing better and better every single week," Molinari said. "Our offense is playing well. Our defense is getting better, and we're a young team."

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