By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
There is a simple annual measuring stick for football teams in the West Suburban Conference Silver Division.
Can you beat Glenbard West?
Since 2007, Glenbard West has gone 73-8 in WSC Silver play and won the conference outright nine times.
Last Saturday afternoon in Glen Ellyn, York did just that. The Dukes, thanks to a Max Hansmann field goal in the waning seconds of the contest, defeated the Hilltoppers 12-10 to move to 6-0 on the season and earn the team’s first automatic playoff berth since 2011.
The Dukes also put themselves in the driver’s seat in the WSC Silver race at 4-0 with a showdown at home Friday against Hinsdale Central on the horizon. Central is 5-1 overall and 3-0 in WSC Silver play, a half-game behind York in the standings.
York’s last football conference championships were shared with Lyons Township and Glenbard West in 2010 and again shared with Lyons in 2007. The Dukes last outright won the WSC Silver in 2006, according to the conference website.
It was York’s first win over Glenbard West since a 27-20 triumph in 2007.
York had lost 21-0 to Glenbard West six months earlier in late March during the COVID-19-necessitated 2021 spring season.
“It’s a big win,” Hansmann said. “I think we were prepared all week. We had this one circled on the schedule for a while. We knew if we did what we could do, we would win. We are a good football team.”
Hansmann, who missed the first extra point of his career earlier in the game, made two field goals in the game, the last as time ticked down in the fourth quarter.
The field goal scenario had an interesting twist to it. York had the ball second-and-goal from the Glenbard West 5-yard line with a minute left when the game was stopped due to lightning. The game resumed after a 30-minute wait. York got the ball down to the 1-yard line and Hansmann hit the eventual game-winner on fourth-and-goal.
“There was a lot happening there,” Hansmann said. “It was kind of crazy with the lightning delay. There were some nerves involved but I trust Josh (Delury) our center and Colin (Doherty) our holder. We knew if we executed we would be alright. I did miss that extra point earlier in the game. It was the first one in my career and it wasn’t ideal coming in that spot. My teammates were great. They said they needed me in that spot later and to keep my head high and I did just that.”
“Max was huge for us,” York defensive lineman Everett Snyder said. “We all trust him and know he can get it done when put under pressure and deliver what we need.”
York led 6-0 on a touchdown by quarterback Matt Vezza, but trailed 10-9 at one point. Hansmann accounted for the other three York points with his first field goal.
“Coach (Mike) Fitzgerald talks about pounding away on the stone,” Hansmann said. “You might not crack it at first, but you might end up being one swing away from cracking it. We totally pounded the stone and got a crack in it. We’re not where we want to be with the stone yet, but we are getting there, for sure.”
Snyder called the Glenbard West win, “super-important” to the Dukes’ football program.
“It shows what we can do down the road and what coach Fitz is building at York,” he said. “I think we were more confident coming into this game after having a good stretch of winning a couple big games. This definitely helped us play up to our full potential.”
York’s defense again was up to the task, limiting a usually high-scoring Hilltoppers’ offense to 10 points. In six games, York’s defense has allowed but 34 points. Glenbard West came into the game having scored 278 points in its first five victories.
“Coach (Don) Gelosmino put in a great defensive scheme to stop Glenbard West on the run and pass,” Snyder said.
“Our defense is a cheat code,” Hansmann said. “There are dogs on that defense left and right. If the other team gets a first down, it’s a letdown to us. Glenbard West typically has an electric offense and they were not able to do anything, which is unreal. They are a cheat code. I don’t know how other teams are going to beat it. There is that saying iron sharpens iron. Our offense has to battle that defense in practice every day. I think our defense is the best in the state. We are there pounding against that in practice. We’re bound to get better.”
After the Hansmann field goal, York’s defense recorded a final stop to seal the win when David Loch came up with an interception.
“Our defense was outstanding,” Fitzgerald said. “They have been outstanding all year. We felt confident if we could control the clock as much as we could on offense and get some pressure and stop them at key times and get some turnovers at key times that we would be in good shape. They were leading 10-9 with 4:50 left in the game and had changed all the momentum. This is a huge win. The kids played an awesome game. It’s a huge program win at their place on their homecoming game. All the time these guys have spent on the field and all the work they have put in, now they are starting to see the results. It’s outstanding.”
Now, York has an automatic playoff berth in its wallet with bigger immediate fish to fry on the horizon.
“We felt like last week getting win No. 5 was a big goal,” Fitzgerald said of becoming playoff eligible with five wins in Week 5 against Lyons Township (14-7 win). “This is a milestone win. It’s a huge win. Glenbard West was another goal. Now we have, for sure, clinched a playoff spot by knocking them out and now we are in a position to win the conference championship. This is how this league goes, every week is a battle. This is awesome. A lot of work has gone into this over the last four kids. I am proud of the kids and I am proud of the kids that have come before them. We have changed the culture, the kids are committed to what we want to do. The long practices in the summer and the morning work these guys put in, people don’t realize how much goes into this. The kids bought into this and that’s awesome to see. This is the result of all their hard work.”
Snyder said the Dukes also have been motivated this season for another reason. “I think this year has been partly about playing for the seniors who lost out on a chance at the playoffs last year,” he explained. “We want to win for them. Also, our motto is pound the stone, and we’ve been pounding ever since we were freshman to try to get this opportunity. We have all bought in and are playing for each other. The playoffs are a huge boost for the entire program. It’s been before since all the guys on the team have been around that York has been in the playoffs.”
Now, the Dukes turn their attention to another WSC Silver meat-grinder at home against Hinsdale Central. The winner will have sole possession of first place in the league.
“This means the world, but our job is not finished yet,” Hansmann said. “Our goal is to go 9-0 and 6-0 in conference. We have three more games. Hinsdale is doing very well and we must be ready for them. Right now, we’re not looking at the playoffs. We 100 percent want to win the conference and go 9-0. We have always had battles with Hinsdale. We’re going to do whatever it takes to get prepared and win the week.”
