Downers Grove North beat Lyons 17-10 on Friday, Oct. 9, to clinch at least a share of the West Suburban Silver conference championship.
The Trojans (7-1, 5-1 Silver) built a 17-0 halftime lead at home and held off a second-half rally, one week after an 18-17 overtime loss at York ended their unbeaten start. The win also snapped a seven-game losing streak to Lyons, which had beaten DGN 24-20 last season, according to Shaw Local.
Junior Grant Georgas set the tone early with an 11-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Kevin Jay punched in a one-yard score, and kicker Baker Glomb drilled a 37-yard field goal to push the lead to 17-0 at the break.
Lyons threatened in the closing seconds of the first half, driving to the DGN three-yard line. Defensive end Declan Davies recovered a fumble on third-and-goal to kill the drive and preserve the shutout.
The Lions (6-2, 3-2) answered in the second half. Running back EJ Kuhlman scored on a five-yard run with 2:10 left in the third quarter, and Wolfie Ketterling's 22-yard field goal midway through the fourth cut the deficit to seven.
That was as close as Lyons got.
Georgas sealed it with a 21-yard run on third-and-six late in the fourth quarter, finishing with 93 yards on 17 carries, according to Shaw Local. He also played safety on defense.
"We don't win a lot of conference championships, it's a really tough league," head coach Joe Horeni said after the game. "So to be in that conversation, to clinch at least a tie for the conference championship is very special."
DGN's defense has allowed 61 points through eight games, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The Trojans posted three shutouts earlier this season and entered Week 8 with the fewest points allowed in the Silver.
Georgas credited the team's preparation after the York loss. He said the Trojans had a "so-so week of practice" before York but responded with a focused week leading into the Lyons game.
Lyons head coach Jon Beutjer said his team's effort was strong but pointed to execution problems on offense as the difference.
Jay added 35 yards rushing and went 3-of-3 passing for 12 yards. Quarterback Joey Goodwin completed 7 of 10 passes for 55 yards with one interception. Lyons defensive back Jack Lee picked off the pass. Receiver Joey Serpico caught four passes and Ryan Brown hauled in three.
DGN was a Class 7A semifinalist last season and entered Week 8 with 35 playoff points, positioning the Trojans for a potential first-round bye. The regular season wraps up in Week 9 against Proviso East.
