Downers Grove North defeats Proviso West

Font Size

Email

Bookmark

Black Text

White Text

It's never a bad strategy to stay close and wait for Proviso West to self-destruct.

That worked out well for Downers Grove North (3-2, 2-0) in a come-from-behind 19-7 win over Proviso West (2-3, 0-3) in a West Suburban Conference Silver Division game on Friday night in Downers Grove.

It was the third straight loss for the Panthers after opening with road wins over Stagg and Hinsdale South.

"We made too many mistakes to win in this division and on the road,'' Proviso West coach Famous Hulbert said. "They capitalized on our mistakes. Downers North does not self-destruct. Every time we made a play it came right back because of a penalty. We simply can't do that and expect to win.''

The Panthers went ahead 7-0 with 2 minutes, 50 seconds to play in the first quarter on a 23-yard pass from Theodis Sloan to Kyle Prater. Jesus Godinez added the extra point.

The Trojans closed within 7-6 midway in the second quarter on a 1-yard run by quarterback Daniel Sheppard on a fourth-down play. The extra point was blocked.

Two turnovers turned the game around in the second half. What turned out to be the winning touchdown came after Sloan was intercepted in the final minute of the third quarter. The Trojans cashed in one play later on a 35-yard run by Jermal Jones. The two-point conversion was no good.

The Panthers turned the ball over again with a fumble on the kickoff after the touchdown. That also resulted in a touchdown on a 2-yard run by Sheppard on the first play of the fourth quarter to put Downers North up 19-7.