Glenbard West does enough to top Prospect

Updated: October 31, 2011 11:23AM

A combined 20 penalties and eight turnovers between the two teams made Saturday’s Class 7A first-round playoff game between Glenbard West and Prospect anything but a masterpiece.

But perfection of another kind continued for the No. 1 seeded Hilltoppers, whose 34-7 win upped their record to 10-0 and set up a second-round home matchup with Lake Zurich.

“The turnovers (four by the Hilltoppers) were bad, the penalties - that’s not what we’ve been all year,” Glenbard West coach Chad Hetlet said. “We haven’t been a sloppy, penalty-ridden team. We have to clean some things up and we’re going to play a very good football team next week in Lake Zurich. We have to get that stuff taken care of.”

But even frequent flags and miscues couldn’t deter the Hilltoppers on Saturday.

Offensively, a strong running game featured Avery Balogh (10 carries, 119 yards), quarterback Justice Odom (12 carries, 83 yards), Kendall Johnson (8 carries, 71 yards) and Joe Zito (8 carries, 38 yards, two touchdowns).

“I think our offense by far was the best so far this season,” Odom said. “(Penalties and turnovers) were definitely a roadblock. It kind of halted our rhythm, but we got back on top of things. I would have wanted our passing game to be there a little bit more (4-of-10 for 74 yards), but I’m comfortable with running too and we’re kind of a running team.”

The Hilltoppers’ first two possessions of the game produced a pair of Zito TD runs (of 13 yards and one yard) for a 14-0 lead after one quarter.

Elusive Prospect quarterback Sam Frasco challenged Glenbard West’s powerful defense all afternoon with 277 yards of total offense (120 rushing, 157 passing), including a 66-yard touchdown run with 11:29 to go in the second quarter to rally the Knights (5-5) to within 14-7.

A Prospect standout defensively was Nick Meersman, who had an interception and a fumble recovery.

But after Frasco’s long scoring dash, Odom capped the Hilltoppers’ ensuing seven play, 75-yard drive with a 19-yard TD run 8:41 before the half to put the Hilltoppers up 21-7. Kicker Dan Cavazos (who pinned Prospect back all day with three kickoffs for touchbacks) kicked a 40-yard field goal later in the half for a 24-7 lead.

A 9-yard TD run by Johnson midway through the third quarter and a Cavazos 27-yard field goal early in the fourth put the game out of reach for the Hilltoppers.

The Glenbard West defense’s relentless pressure on Frasco produced four quarterback sacks (two by Penn State-bound Tommy Schutt) and interceptions by Mike Marston, Alex Emanuel, Joe Marconi and Hayden Carlson.

“Defensively we played well,” Schutt said. “We played fast and physical like we try to every week. We gave up a couple big plays which we’ll watch on film and try to be ready for next week.

“The way we stress forcing turnovers is an important part of our defense, and everyone on the defense man for man plays as one unit. We fly around and hit people.”

The entire Hilltoppers’ squad has its sights set on impact of another kind: on the Class 7A playoff bracket.

“I’m really excited,” Odom said. “We’re all smiling about getting down to state, but we’re also trying to keep the main focus, which is to stay alive in the playoffs and make sure we actually get to where we want to go.”

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