Unbeaten Hilltoppers stay on track vs. Lyons

Glenbard West's Jessie Condie makes his way for a score against Lyons.
(Stacia Timonere/For the Sun-Times)

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Before Glenbard West’s game against visiting Lyons Saturday in Glen Ellyn, Hilltoppers lineman Chris Watt was honored as a U.S. Army All-American.

But the All-American and Notre Dame recruit spent the game on the sidelines.

Watt sat out with a sprained right ankle, but No. 5 Glenbard West managed to hold off West Suburban Silver rival Lyons with a 28-14 victory.

“It’s really cool to be a part of something so special and to play for the U.S. Army is great,” Watt said. “I think we played well. People stepped up. I think in the second half we had to start running the ball and we made some big plays.”

Watt sprained his right ankle in the first half of last week’s game against Downers Grove North. Watt said his goal is to play next week against Hinsdale Central, which would be for the conference title.

Glenbard West (8-0, 5-0) led by a touchdown at halftime, despite a seemingly fast start. On the game’s first play from scrimmage, Bryant Venson ran for a 65-yard touchdown.

“We were saying all week that we wanted first possession, and on that first play we wanted to score and let it be known that we’re ready,” Venson said.

Lyons (3-5, 2-3) tied it at 7-7 midway through the first quarter on Nicholas Brown’s 9-yard catch from quarterback Ryan Mitchell.

Hilltoppers quarterback Chris Cochrane’s 31-yard pass to Jessie Condie with 1:25 remaining in the first half put Glenbard West ahead 14-7.

Cochrane’s second touchdown, a 31-yard throw to Will Caspers, came with six minutes to go in the third. The Hilltoppers seemed to have the game in hand.

But Lyons wouldn’t give up. Mitchell’s 15-yard pass to Jordan Hester brought the Lions to within 21-14.

On the ensuing kickoff Venson exploded down the right side for a 95-yard touchdown, putting the game away.

“I didn’t think they would kick it to me and I was bracing myself to block,” Venson said. “I saw the seam and I just ran.”