By Bobby Narang
The Glenbard West and Downers Grove North High School football game was slated to be one to watch on Saturday afternoon.
But misfortune hit both programs earlier in the season, although both teams managed to win their first three games.
Downers Grove North star senior quarterback, Owen Lansu, a Minnesota recruit, suffered an injury against Downers Grove South and is slated to be sidelined for several weeks. Glenbard West quarterback, AJ Rayford, missed the last two games with a hip injury but returned for the showdown with Downers Grove North.
Rayford was the difference maker in Saturday’s West Suburban Silver game.
The Glenbard West Hilltoppers had lost the last two games in the annual series, but that changed with the return of Rayford and a tough defense.
The Hilltoppers dominated the game from the opening whistle on the way to a 35-23 victory over the Trojans. Rayford passed for 172 yards and tossed a 51-yard touchdown to standout tight end Brady Johnson.
The Hilltoppers (4-0, 2-0) seized a 28-0 lead in the first quarter but dialed back their offense for the final two quarters, allowing the Trojans to score points late in the game. Bryce Ellens led the rushing attack with touchdown runs of 14 and 55 yards and Jamarcus Kelly scored two touchdowns.
“It was great to be back with the team and my guys,” Rayford said. “We put in a lot of work these past two weeks and I’ve been really anxious to get back on the field. It was hard watching them on the field and not playing…We started off fast, but the second half we came out slow.”
Rayford said he did view the injury as a small positive, helping him adjust to his new school and learn the offense better by viewing from a different perspective.
“Just watching and visualizing my reads helped me implement it into a game,” Rayford said.”
Glenbard West junior left tackle Josiah Wallace, at 6-foot-8 and 285 pounds, said he was thrilled to see Rayford back at quarterback. Wallace, a transfer from Mount Carmel, visited Purdue last week, and has offers from Toledo, Western Michigan and Howard.
“He’s great and has to keep working,” Wallace said of Rayford. “He’s going to get better. He brings a lot of passing and can run the ball really good. I talked with A.J. out of school and just keep talking to be connected.”
The Trojans (3-1, 1-1) slipped from the unbeaten ranks due to a host of mistakes and turnovers, most early in the game. Without Lansu directing the offense and slinging passes all over the field, the Trojans used versatile Kevin Jay Jr. at quarterback. A talented runner, Jay moved the chains but struggled with the passing game, allowing the Hilltoppers to load the box. Jay scored two rushing touchdowns and tossed a 71-yard TD bomb to Maxwell Troha.
“(Downers Grove North) is a great football team,” Glenbard West coach Chad Hetlet said. “Downers Grove North fights their tails off and is well coached. That’s a huge win for Glenbard West. It was great to have (Rayford) back, gives us the opportunity to throw the ball and it loosens up the defense and sets up our run. We’re excited to be 4-0. We’ve played a lot of tough teams. Our kids like to keep things exciting, but they find a way to win.”
Downers Grover Grove North coach Joe Horeni said he expects Lansu “to be back at some point, and there’s thoughts of sooner than later.”
“You can’t fumble the ball two times inside the 20-yard line against a good team,” Horeni said. “I’m proud of the way our guys fought in the second half. They continue to take the coaching and execute the situations they were put in.”