Williams carries Downers South past Hinsdale South

Updated: October 14, 2011 11:49PM

Downers South’s defense may be outshined by the performance of star running back Josh Williams, but it has not been outdone.

Williams, a 5-9, 175-pound senior, continued his terrific season by rushing 37 times for 233 yards and four touchdowns in Friday night’s 49-6 victory over Hinsdale South. He now has 1,900 yards rushing and 30 overall touchdowns for the Mustangs (8-0, 6-0 West Suburban Gold), who won the battle for the Rebel Cannon for the sixth straight year.

Lost in the shuffle was another dominant performance by Downers South’s defense, which allowed the visiting Hornets (4-4, 3-2) only 97 yards of total offense and forced two turnovers. The Mustangs have given up just 49 points this fall.

“We’re just really glad that we’ve got Josh,” said Downers South defensive lineman Jeremy Ulrich. “He gets a lot of the cred, but we’re in the background doing our jobs and we don’t mind. We take pride in it.”

Ulrich had a sack and a fumble recovery, while safety Danny Leach and linebacker Lance Leong both had sacks and linebacker Melvin Saulsberry a fumble recovery as well as a near-block of a punt that gave the Mustangs the ball at the Hinsdale South 23 early in the first quarter, setting up a three-yard touchdown run by Williams.

“I feel pretty good right now,” Saulsberry said. “I’m playing my part right now, which is contributing to the defense and it’s helping us stay undefeated.

“We all work hard during practice. We all contribute, we all go 100 percent, so it pays off during the game because we’re never tired.”

The Mustangs were so dominant defensively that the Hornets had minus-24 yards in the first quarter, which ended with Downers South ahead 14-0 after Williams’ second touchdown run, a one-yarder.

The hosts extended the lead to 22-0 with 10:15 left in the second quarter when A.J. Simoncelli tossed the first of his two touchdown passes, a 23-yarder to Scott Daly, which was followed by John Wauer’s two-point conversion run. The 33-yard drive was set up by Marco Scalzetti’s 32-yard punt return.

Hinsdale South got on the board thanks to a 21-yard touchdown pass from DJ Deolitsis to Nathan Andrews on a fourth-and-13 play as time expired in the first half.

The Mustangs scored on their first three possessions of the second half, including touchdown runs of six and three yards by Williams. The Hornets managed only one first down in the second half and seven overall.

“We do try to get 11 guys to the ball every time, so pretty much we’re just there every time,” Saulsberry said. “Even if [the ballcarrier] is down, we’re going to all get there and that’s how we’re going to get the ball out.”

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