When Hinsdale South trailed by seven points in the beginning of the fourth quarter against Willowbrook on Saturday, Sept. 19, the Hornets’ defense needed to find a way to slow down the Warriors’ passing game.
Willowbrook quarterback Billy Degnan had capped back-to-back drives with touchdown passes to Jonathan Kelso and was trying to pad the visitors’ 20-13 advantage.
Hornets linebacker Jon Gorney found a way to slow the Willowbrook air attack temporarily, leaping to tip a pass attempt that was intercepted by teammate Destin Talbert.
Hinsdale South (2-2, 1-1) could not convert the turnover into a score, and the comeback attempt ultimately fell short in a 27-13 West Suburban Gold loss to the Warriors in Darien.
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“Coach (Nate) Wolkow was talking to us and said we need a turnover, and that is what we went out and did,” Gorney said. “Our coaches always tell us to visualize making the play. I read pass, did my drop like my coaches taught me to do and I was right there.
“I had no clue (it was intercepted). I thought I just tipped it down and we had to go again. Then I saw Destin caught it and I was pretty excited.”
Hornets coach Mike Barry was not surprised that Gorney was in position to make the play.
“He is one of our better athletes overall,” Barry said. “He is just a really smart football player. He has played the game a long time. He is just a really football-smart kid.
“Defensively, we have not created a lot of turnovers this year, where in the past we were looking at two or three a game. That is something that we really try to focus on; it resonated well with him.
“We do not want to play like a roller coaster with emotions, but at that point we definitely needed a little pick-me-up.”
Hinsdale South took a 6-0 lead on the first drive of the game on a 16-yard pass from Sean McCormack to his brother, Connor McCormack.
Sean McCormack, who also threw a TD pass to Ravon Johnson, completed 12-of-25 attempts for 152 yards.
The teams went into the first half tied 6-6 before Willowbrook got its passing game going..
“The first half we were just quiet, it was like a practice for us,” Gorney said. “We did not play well, there is no way around it. Our pass defense was bad; we have stuff to work on.”
Willowbrook (2-2, 1-1) found a rhythm through the air in the second half. Degnan completed 16-of-22 passes for 238 yards and three scores.
“It is really difficult to simulate (in practice) what you are going to get against their front six. They are really talented up front,” Willowbrook coach Nick Heldrith said. “Early on we struggled a little bit. We shored some things up and did OK.”
Patrick Kelly is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.