King’s toughness propels Hinsale South

Updated: August 26, 2011 10:35PM

Senior D.J. King first demonstrated his toughness and then his speed to help Hinsdale South open the season with an exciting 22-20 road victory over Romeoville Friday.

King kept the go-ahead drive alive when he leaped to make a fourth-down catch and held on after a crushing hit. Three plays later, Justin Ward caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback D.J. Deolitsis to give the Hornets a 15-14 advantage with 6:10 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Then, after Romeoville threatened to score on the ensuing possession, King scooped up a fumble on a fourth-down play and returned it 95 yards for a touchdown with 2:04 left to increase the lead to 22-14 and the Hornets hung on despite a late scare.

“I just wanted to be there for me team,” said King, who also had a rushing touchdown in the first half. “Big players make big plays. I knew it was fourth down and I had to do something about it, so I just picked the ball up and touchdown. It was a big win for us.”

Romeoville stormed back to get within 22-20 when Duvuan Goodlow caught a 26-yard TD pass from James Rooks with 1:11 left, but Perez Ford was stopped on the conversion run and Hinsdale South recovered an onside kick to preserve the victory.

Ford finished with 162 yards on 25 carries and scored a touchdown in the loss.

“It’s tough,” Ford said. “We lose by two points and it (stinks). My stats don’t mean anything if we can’t get a W. It’s the first game of the year and things are going to happen. I’m not going to worry too much about the first game.”

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