The York football team wasted no time getting back on the winning track.
The Dukes opened West Suburban Conference Silver Division play with a 38-0 win over Proviso West in Hillside in a game that was shortened to one half due to lightning.
“We played pretty well all around,” York coach Don Gelsomino said. “We threw the ball pretty well on offense. Defensively, we had a couple of sacks. It was good to get some pressure and get the quarterback on the ground a few times.”
York (2-1, 1-0 WSC Silver) had 15 tackles for loss in the game from 10 different defensive players. Michael Pfleeger led the way with 5 tackles, 3 for loss and had half a sack. Tommy Hosler had four tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Blake Yankowski had three tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Greg Witruk had three tackles, two for loss and one sack. Matt Young had half a tackle for loss, while Will Bute had two tackles for loss. Vince Howard had one tackle for loss and one sack. Colin Anciulis had half a tackle for loss and half a sack. Owen Roberts had one tackle for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry. Brayden Byford had half a tackle for loss and half a sack, while Max Bui had one quarterback hurry.
York limited Proviso West to eight yards of total offense, three first downs and held the Panthers to 1-for-7 on third-down efficiency.
Chris Winton started the scoring when he caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from Zack Assaad. Winton also ran in the two-point conversion. York went up 15-0 after Liam Larma caught a six-yard pass from Assaad.
The Dukes scored 23 points in the second quarter. Chris Georgas caught a 23-yard pass from Assaad and also had a 47-yard rushing touchdown. Cade Kasmer scored on a 1-yard run and York connected on a 27-yard field goal.
Assaad finished 5-for-8 for 77 yards and threw three touchdowns. Georgas ran five times for 85 yards and a score, while Kasmer ran three times for 15 yards and a touchdown. Winton caught two passes for 47 yards and a touchdown.
“We did what we needed to do and got the win,” Gelsomino said. “It was a hot game. The start got pushed back a little because of the heat and then it was shortened by the lightning.”
York faces Leyden in a WSC crossover game at home Friday, Sept. 11, on senior night.
“It will be a good one giving the seniors that recognition,” Gelsomino said. “We like doing it early in the season and a lot of other schools are starting to do that as well. It will be a good night for our seniors.”
Through three games, Gelsomino likes what he’s seen from his squad.
“Our effort has been really good,” he said. “Kids are flying around and constantly grinding and trying to get better over and over. We’re already a third of a way through the regular season. You don’t realize it, but a lot of football has been played. I like the resiliency and the effort and hopefully that pays off for us down the road in the stretch run.”
