Glenbard West cruises past Hinsdale Central

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Updated: September 20, 2011 7:29PM

It was finally time to get everyone in the mix for surging Glenbard West.

The Hilltoppers’ Penn State-bound defensive lineman, Tommy Schutt, scored his first career rushing touchdown on a one-yard plunge in the first quarter. Glenbard West also saw the return of senior running back Kendall Johnson from a three-game suspension.

No. 2 Glenbard West rolled to a 45-14 West Suburban Silver victory over Hinsdale Central Saturday in Glen Ellyn. The Hilltoppers scored 17 points in the first quarter and put up points on seven of their first eight possessions.

Schutt, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound senior, scored the game’s second touchdown with 7:39 remaining in the opening quarter. He appeared as a running back when the Hilltoppers reached the Hinsdale 5 on quarterback Justice Odom’s five-yard run. Schutt’s first carry was a four-yard run off left guard Nick Garland to set up his touchdown run off right guard Jake Brodner.

Schutt, who had three carries for six yards, caught one touchdown pass last season as a tight end.

“It was great breaking into the end zone and putting [the ball] in there,” said Schutt, who was a running back on the freshman team. “I hope I can put in more. It’s our goal-line Rhino package.”

Odom (7 of 11, 182 yards) threw for two touchdown passes and scored on a three-yard run in the first half. His screen pass to Avery Balogh on the game’s first play for scrimmage went 75 yards for a touchdown. Balogh turned the corner and outran linebacker Cole Potkul into the end zone.

“It was a good start, a quick start,” Glenbard coach Chad Hetlet said. “One of our first goals over the summer, our No. 1 goal was to start fast in every game. I hope we can keep it up.”

Odom ended the first half with a 38-yard passing score to a wide open Nathan Marcus with 2:37 remaining in the second quarter.

Odom completed the first drive in the second quarter with a 3-yard touchdown run. The Hilltoppers (4-0, 2-0) led 31-0 at halftime and Odom threw only one pass in the second half. It was incomplete.

Balogh (seven carries, 62 yards), who scored three touchdowns last week, scored his second touchdown against the Devils (2-2, 0-2) on a 19-yard run on just the second play in the second half. One play earlier, Hinsdale quarterback Brian Owens (20-of-35, 259 yards) threw an interception that was returned by Hayden Carlson to set up Balogh’s rush for a touchdown.

“You have to play them perfect to compete against them,” Devils coach Rich Tarka said. “[On the first play], we had two guys that busted leverage. [Balogh] had a little seam and he was out there.”

The Devils played without leading rusher Teddy Kwasigroch, who broke a finger in his left hand earlier in the week. Tarka did not know how long Kwasigroch will be out.

Kwasigroch’s replacement, T.J. Salley, rushed for only nine yards on seven carries. Hinsdale had minus-nine yards rushing in the first half, 19 yards total. Salley scored the Devils’ first TD in the third quarter on a 2-yard run and Nick Sellinger added another two-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.

For the first time, Owens played the entire game this season after sharing time with senior Danny Callahan in the previous three games. Tarka said Owens has apparently earned the starting position. Callahan saw time in the second half as a receiver. Callahan may appear in future games as a running back.

“[Owens] manages the game,” Tarka said. “He has better passing stats. He’s done a good job. Last week, he moved the ball [against Proviso West].”

Owens threw to nine different players, led by Brad Anlauf’s seven catches for 123 yards.

Johnson was suspended for the season’s first three games and practiced with the Hilltoppers’ scout team. He finished with six carries on 30 yards mainly in the second half. Glenbard had four players with at least 30 yards rushing, also including Joe Zito (39 yards) and Odom (30).