Trojans Run Wild for 49-14 Victory Over Wildcats

Downers Grove North football players dismantled the West Chicago Wildcats 49-14 on Friday night to secure a spot in the second round of the Class 7A playoffs. The Trojans, who finished the regular season with a 9-1 record, will face St. Rita next. This victory positions the team to extend a streak that has seen them reach the quarterfinals for four consecutive seasons.

The Trojans controlled the game from the opening whistle. They scored on every offensive drive during the first half and held the Wildcats without a point until the third quarter. The rushing attack powered the offensive surge. Zachary Surowiec and Kevin Jay combined for three rushing touchdowns in the first half, propelling the team to a 28-0 lead.

Surowiec opened the scoring on the team's first drive. He broke through the defense for a 46-yard run that put Downers Grove North ahead 7-0. He extended the lead to 14-0 with 49 seconds left in the first quarter on a 17-yard rush. The momentum continued into the second quarter.

Quarterback Joey Goodwin added to the lead with a 29-yard pass to Jacob Vroman. Kevin Jay then broke free for a 27-yard rushing touchdown, making the score 28-0. An interception by Connor Crowley set up the next score. Goodwin connected with Ray Johnson for a 60-yard touchdown pass, increasing the advantage to 35-0 before backups entered the game.

Coach Joe Horeni credited the team for executing their game plan against a difficult offensive style. “Teams like West Chicago that run triple options are tough to prepare for, but our guys did a great job,” Horeni said. “Our kids did a nice job of being physical and with preparation during the week. We don’t really face many teams that run triple options the way West Chicago does, so we put an emphasis on the kids doing their jobs to adjust.”

The second half saw the lead balloon further. Second string quarterback Jacob Pourier took over and threw two touchdowns in the third quarter. A 19-yard pass to Kyle Jacobs pushed the score to 49-0 with four minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Trojans had already secured the win by that point.

West Chicago, which had won its first playoff game in 52 years the previous week, struggled to find rhythm. They were held scoreless until midway through the fourth quarter. Running back Iann Lemus broke the scoring drought with an eight-minute mark, rushing for a 10-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 49-7.

Lemus added a second touchdown with one minute on the clock to settle the final score at 49-14. The Wildcats finished the season with a 5-6 record. Downers Grove North players expressed satisfaction with their performance. “It felt good to come here and take care of business,” Jay said. “We ran the ball pretty great and have been all year, so my coaches and everybody around me know what the team and I are capable of.”

Goodwin noted that the team focused on correcting minor errors during the week. “Working on ourselves and ironing our vices out is what we wanted to accomplish today,” Goodwin said. “Coming off the bye, fixing what we can control with alignment and assignments was a big part of our offense. Knowing our schemes and where we stand as a unit sets us up for success in every play we run.”