Leach's two touchdowns propel Mustangs

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:22PM

Danny Leach scored on a two-yard touchdown run and an 84-yard punt return and star running back Josh Williams came off the bench despite an injured ankle to lead host Downers Grove South to a 28-14 victory over Addison Trail Friday night.

The Mustangs (6-2, 5-0) clinched a share of their fourth consecutive West Suburban Conference Gold Division championship and qualified for the playoffs for the 14th consecutive year.

"Danny Leach has been phenomenal," Williams said. "For a guy who has never played running back, he's stepped up tremendously for our team."

Leach rushed 12 times for 47 yards while starting in place of Williams and Ryan Oruche, who are limited by ankle injuries. Oruche caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from A.J. Simoncelli with 22 seconds left in the first half to put Downers ahead 20-0.

Williams made it 28-0 with a 29-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter. He finished with 82 yards on 14 carries in a game in which he did not expect to play.

"No, not at all, but when my number was called I had to step up for my team," Williams said. "I was determined on all plays, but on that [scoring] play I was like, ‘I'm going to get in the end zone, nothing is stopping me.'

"We're very banged up and it wasn't our best effort. We know that we have to step up again next week."

Addison Trail (4-4, 4-1) scored twice in the fourth quarter on a five-yard run by Anthony Messina and a 57-yard touchdown pass from Trevor Bermingham to Anthony Catanese. The Blazers then recovered an onside kick but Bermingham was picked off by freshman Javon Turner four plays later.

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.