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Hinsdale South takes down Willowbrook
Updated: October 21, 2011 10:24PM
If Keontae Hall played the final game of his career Friday night, it went down as a memorable one.
Hall set new career marks with four touchdowns and 247 yards rushing on 29 carries.
By halftime, Hall nearly surpassed his career rushing total for an entire game but already scored a career-best three touchdowns in Hinsdale South’s 50-22 West Suburban Gold victory over visiting Willowbrook Friday night.
The win made the Hornets (5-4, 4-2) eligible for the Class 6A playoffs, but with 34 playoff points entering the contest, Hinsdale South will need help to become one of the final 256 teams in the postseason. Last year’s cutoff to make the playoffs was 39 points. The Hornets hope to make the playoffs for the first time since 2005, its last winning season.
Hinsdale went 3-6 last season, but went over .500 in coach Mike Barry’s first season.
“That fact that we went 5-4 and became playoff eligible in our first year shows that we have made progress,” Barry said. “The guys have bought into what we are doing.”
Hall, the Hornets’ 5-foot-9, 190-pound senior running back, helped the Hornets recover after the Warriors (0-8, 0-6) scored the first two touchdowns to open the game. Hinsdale responded with five consecutive scores, including a second-quarter safety, to lead 29-14 at halftime.
Hall scored on touchdown runs of 45, 5, and 69 yards in the first half and went into the half with 189 yards on 15 carries. He rushed for a career-high 209 yards in a Week 5 victory at Leyden. He scored at least two rushing touchdowns in two previous games this season. Hall added his fourth TD on a 5-yard run late in the fourth quarter.
In two varsity seasons, Hall should finish among the top 10 rushers in Hinsdale South history, Barry said
“It’s a great feeling. I want to thank God and I want to thank my offensive line,” Hall said.
Hall went untouched on his 69-yard TD run, which came on the Hornets’ first play from scrimmage in the second quarter. He found a hole to his right and went untouched after turning the corner. The TD broke a 14-14 tie to give the Hornets a 20-14 lead since the point-after failed.
“I tried to use my speed to get outside,” Hall said. “I had to work hard, and I did.”
Willowbrook went winless for the first time in school history under first-year coach Nick Hildreth. Hildreth, a former Warriors defensive coordinator, took over as coach over the summer when the school hired another coach, who later backed out in the spring.
“It’s been a transition for the kids,” Hildreth said. “They have responded great. The kids have worked hard. I feel bad for the seniors.”
The Warriors stunned Hinsdale when Brandon Smith returned the opening kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown. After the Hornets failed to return the kickoff, Raphael Garcia recovered the kickoff at the Hornets’ 14 and the Warriors scored two plays later on Garcia’s 5-yard run to put Willowbrook ahead 14-0.
At halftime, Hinsdale led 348-57 in total yards. The Hornets led 25-6 in first downs for the game.
Willowbrook ended Hinsdale’s run of 43 consecutive points scored with 6:11 remaining in the fourth quarter when Dom Battaglia caught Steve Ferguson’s 14-yard TD pass.
Hornets junior quarterback D.J. Deolitsis (11-of-15, 232 yards) threw three TD passes, including a 69-yard score to Nathan Andrews to open the scoring in the fourth quarter.
“We’ve had some ups and downs, but it’s been a learning process game by game by game,” Barry said.
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