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player ready...Little things made a big difference when two 4-0 teams met Friday.
Addison Trail used a key fourth-and-goal stop and came up with just enough offense to pull out a 20-16 West Suburban Gold victory against Hinsdale South.
The Hornets (4-1), who led 14-13 at the half, used a Joshua King safety on the fifth play of the second half to help build a 16-13 lead. Hinsdale South then went 49 yards in 16 plays to eat up nearly eight minutes of clock before facing a fourth-and-1 at Addison Trail’s 4.
A collection of defensive linemen and linebackers locked up Hinsdale South quarterback Robert Regan at the line and the Hornets ran just eight plays the rest of the game. Addison Trail quarterback Mike Rybarczyk lofted a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jake Atiyeh with 6 minutes, 32 seconds to give the Blazers their first lead since late in the first half.
“We were all swarming to ball on that play, just flying,” said 5-foot-9, 185-pound senior lineman Robert Rinaldi, one of several players to make the key tackle. “I really don’t remember the play that well. There were so many close ones like that all night.”
“It just showed that the hard work pays off,” said 5-foot-9, 190-pound junior linebacker Zach Atiyeh, who also had a hand in on the stop. “There were a lot of distractions with homecoming and all. But we were able to find our focus.”
Hinsdale South scored first when quarterback Robert Regan (8-for-14, 75 yards, TD, 22 carries, 92 yards) ran in from 2 yards. Addison Trail came back three plays later on Rybarczyk’s 66-yard run.
“That’s what it comes down to,” Hinsdale South coach Mike Barry said. “When you get two good teams together and it comes down to fourth-and-1, one team is going to come out on top. Unfortunately, it wasn’t us tonight.”
Player of the game: Mike Rybarczyk, 12-for-18, 92 yards, TD, INT; 7 carries, 92 yards, TD.
Key performers: Addison Trail — Malik Pierre-Lewis, 20 carries, 62 yards, TD; Jake Atiyeh, 9 catches, 64 yards, TD. Hinsdale South — Robert Regan, 8-for-14, 75 yards, TD; 22 carries, 92 yards, TD.