Downers South ends Raiders' season

Senior quarterback Brad Geever dives in for a touchdown during Bolingbrook's 22-19 loss to Downers Grove South.
(John Patsch/Staff Photographer)

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In a rivalry that has proven to be nothing short of magnificent, it would only be fitting that the fourth meeting in three years between Bolingbrook and Downers Grove South would come down to the final minutes.

With 1 minute, 37 seconds left to go in the Class 8A Round 2 playoff game in Bolingbrook, Downers Grove South's Chandler Whitmer snuck into the end zone behind his right guard for what would be the game-winning score in the Mustangs 22-19 victory over the Raiders.

"We believed that we could come back to win, we did it last week and we did it again," Whitmer said. "We need to stop scaring people."

Downers Grove South was set up with excellent field position on their final drive due to a miscue by the Bolingbrook (9-2) special teams unit. The snap to punter Chris Williams was low, and when he received the ball, he had his knee on the ground allowing the Mustangs to take over on the Raiders' 30-yard line with 4:50 left to play in the game.

The Mustangs methodically moved the ball down the field on their final drive and capitalized on two off-side penalties by the Raiders inside of the 15-yard line. After the touchdown, Downers Grove South made it a three-point game by converting on their two-point conversion attempt to take a three-point lead and put the pressure on Bolingbrook.

"This was a great football game and this is what high school football should be like," said Downers Grove South head coach John Belskis. "We capitalized on their mistakes and now our team is one of the best eight in the state so we are going to enjoy it."

The Mustangs sealed the game on defense. On the fourth play of the Raiders' offensive drive, Bolingbrook quarterback Brad Geever was picked off by a leaping Ryan Kelly, ending the drive.

Whitmer finished the game 11 for 22 for 116 yards and one touchdown pass. Of his 116 yards, 93 came in the second half after he started the first half of the game 5 for 13. Jason Jozaites caught five passes for 60 yards.

Bolingbrook's Jamel Martin rushed 18 times for 164 yards, and Geever ran for two touchdowns and threw for another.