King's performance helps Hornets top Leyden

Updated: March 22, 2011 4:14PM

Hinsdale South junior D.J. King had a 49-yard interception return, blocked a field goal and scored the clinching touchdown in the

Hornets' 17-14 victory over Leyden Friday in West Suburban Conference Gold Division action at Hinsdale Central.

King scored on a 10-yard reverse run with 7:52 left to put the Hornets (2-2, 1-1 in Gold) ahead 17-6. Leyden (1-3, 0-2) scored on a 12-yard pass from quarterback Joey DiFronzo to Andras Orrego with 1:35 left and made the two-point conversion but its ensuing onside kick did not go far enough to be recovered legally.

King's interception return to the Leyden 7 set up the Hornets' first touchdown, a one-yard keeper by quarterback Michael Cross, for a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. The Hornets earlier took advantage of a high punt snap to get good field position and a 34-yard field goal from Nick Sarocco.

DiFronzo threw a 14-yard TD pass to Adrian Ruiz 3:09 before halftime to cut the lead to 10-6. The extra point was wide.

The Eagles almost closed to within one point but King broke through and blocked their 30-yard field goal attempt with 6:26 left in the third quarter. The Hornets then missed a 33-yard field goal but scored on their next possession when the Eagles failed to convert on fourth-and-one from their 29.

The Hornets' Keontae Hall rushed for 136 yards on 25 carries. Cross was 4-for-12 passing for 73 yards with King making two catches for 50-yards, including one on a fake punt.

DiFronzo was 15-for-30 for 123 yards with Jeffrey Renteria (six catches, 64 yards) his top receiver. Sebastian Chrzaszcz had two the Eagles' three interceptions, including a 69-yard return to the 16 just 49 seconds before halftime that resulted in a missed 47-yard field goal.

© 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.