Overmatched at nearly every position, perhaps the best Downers Grove South could have hoped for in Friday’s opener against No. 1 Homewood-Flossmoor was that the Vikings might be looking ahead to next week’s state championship rematch with Stevenson.
Not a chance.
The Vikings scored five touchdowns on their first 10 plays en route to a 56-15 thrashing.
Senior quarterback Bryce Gray completed his first five passes, two of which went for touchdowns. His lone lowlight was an intentional grounding play late in the second quarter. He made up for it on the next play, connecting with Kendric Pryor for a 35-yard score and a 42-9 halftime lead.
“It doesn’t make any difference who we play, we’re going to play our game. And if we play our game and execute the way we should, it should be like this all time,” said Gray, who finished 8-for-10 for 338 yards and four TDs. “I just trust my guys. We’re a veteran team. We’ve been through it all..”
H-F scored on its opening possession on a 31-yard run up the middle from Deante Harley-Hampton (four carries, 48 yards), then scored four times on its next six plays, including TD passes of 68 and 28 yards from Gray.
Pryor caught four passes for 143 yards and two scores. Devonte Harley-Hampton took his two receptions 137 yards, including a 66-yard TD.
“We knew they were loaded on offense” Downers South coach Mark Molinari said. “We have a lot of kids who haven’t played varsity football before. And that’s a tough way to get your first lesson.”
English is a freelance reporter for the baiduhai.
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Player of the game: Bryce Gray, H-F, 8-for-10 passing, 338 yards, 4 TDs.
Key performers: Kendrick Pryor, H-F, 4 catches, 143 yards, 2 TDs; Devonte Harley-Hampton, HF, 2 catches, 137 yards, TD.