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Dorrance returns in time
Villa Park Friday 10/19/12 Hindsdale South's#39 Arian Toney breaks through the line of scrimmage and heads to the end zone for a touch down, against Willowbrook. | Jerry Daliege~for Sun-Times Media
Names in the Game
SARAH LEGANSKI
Noteworthy efforts: The sophomore ran a personal-best 18 minutes, 30.14 seconds to finish seventh at the Lyons girls cross country regional Saturday.
ARIAN TONEY
Noteworthy efforts: The junior running back had a career game Friday night, rushing for 279 yards on 37 carries and scoring three TDs in a playoff-clinching win at Willowbrook.
Article Extras
Updated: December 24, 2012 1:17AM
VILLA PARK — Jake Dorrance has started only one game this season, but his next could be in Hinsdale South’s first playoff game since 2005.
It has been a crazy year for the junior from Willowbrook, who missed nearly the entire season due to a concussion, but is suddenly a regular contributor on the offensive line for the Hornets. Hinsdale South clinched a playoff berth with a 41-22 victory at Willowbrook Friday night.
Eighth-seeded Hinsdale South (6-3) plays at top-seeded Oak Forest (8-1) at 7 p.m. Friday in the Class 6A first round. The winner plays fifth-seeded Shepard (6-3) or fourth-seeded Perspectives (7-2).
The playoff berth came a season after the Hornets went 5-4, but lacked enough playoff points to gain an at-large berth. They were in danger of suffering that same fate again, but won their final game of the regular season.
With four returning offensive linemen, the Hornets have turned second-year coach Mike Barry’s no-huddle spread offense into a dominating rushing attack. Against Willowbrook, junior Arian Toney ran for three touchdowns and a career-high 279 yards on 37 carries. On the season, Toney has 169 carries for 1,094 yards and 12 TDs. Senior quarterback D.J. Deolitsis has 142 rushes for 1,104 yards and 18 TDs.
Deolitsis is 56-of-131 passing for 806 yards and five TDs.
The offensive line returned Zack Guritz, Matt Welgos, Peter Gebauer and Sean Miller from last season. Newcomer Frank Cabrera at left guard suffered an ankle injury in a loss at Hinsdale Central Sept. 29. He remains in a walking boot and was replaced by Liam McGowan.
Dorrance then replaced McGowan in the second half of a loss to Downers Grove South Oct. 12. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound junior suffered his second career concussion during the summer and wasn’t cleared to play until then.
“I’m so excited to get a chance to play,” Dorrance said. “I was expecting to get in the last minute once in a while as a backup guy.”
Dorrance is playing left guard next to Guritz for the first time in his career. He has been a defensive end and an offensive tackle. He was called up from the sophomore team for the final two regular season games last season.
Dorrance’s father, Tom, is the defensive coordinator for Hinsdale Central. Tom Dorrance will be busy coaching the fifth-seeded Red Devils (7-2), who host 12th-seeded Oak Park-River Forest (6-2) in a Class 8A opener at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Jake Dorrance previously missed playing against his dad’s team Sept. 29 due to his concussion.
The win over Willowbrook launched a celebration in the Guritz house in Darien, where 6-foot-3, 280-pound senior left tackle Zack was able to share the moment with his father Matt, the freshman coach who helps on the sideline of varsity games.
“It was amazing,” said Zack Guritz, Hinsdale South’s top lineman. “It was a special feeling with my dad by my side as a coach. I found him after the game and embraced him. It was an awesome feeling I won’t forget.”
After coaching three years at Evergreen Park, Barry will make his playoff coaching debut Friday night at Oak Forest. Barry played at Downers North when the Trojans finished second in Class 8A in 1990, losing to Thornton 31-21 in the final.
“It’s exciting. Obviously, making (the playoffs) has been our goal,” Barry said. “We were close, real close last year. We’re fortunate to get in.”
Names in the Game
SARAH LEGANSKI
Noteworthy efforts: The sophomore ran a personal-best 18 minutes, 30.14 seconds to finish seventh at the Lyons girls cross country regional Saturday.
ARIAN TONEY
Noteworthy efforts: The junior running back had a career game Friday night, rushing for 279 yards on 37 carries and scoring three TDs in a playoff-clinching win at Willowbrook.
Quick Hits
Big Numbers
29-52 | The record for the Hornets’ opponents this season, worst among all Class 6A playoff teams.
Sound Bites
“I’m a lot more confident after Saturday, but I’m still nervous. I don’t know what to expect.”
— Sarah Leganski, heading in Saturday’s Marist cross country sectional.
Don’t Miss
Saturday Girls cross country: Marist Sectional, 11 a.m.
Saturday Girls swimming: West Suburban Gold meet, 1 p.m.
