Downers Grove North junior Baker Glomb’s field goal beats Morgan Park as time expires

Downers Grove North’s Owen Lansu is one of the state’s most talented and experienced players. The Minnesota recruit is a three-year starter and played in a state championship game.

Lansu was up against Morgan Park’s new defense on Saturday at Gately Stadium, and it left an impression.

“It was incredibly tough,” Lansu said. “Of any school we’ve ever played, those were probably the toughest passing looks we have ever seen. We had a tough day passing the ball and running the ball. Credit to them. They are a super-talented team and will go really far this year.”

Morgan Park and No. 5 Downers Grove North staged a defensive battle for four quarters.

Despite a rough game overall, Lansu was confident his team would pull out the victory as the drive started.

“We’ve done it before a few times,” Lansu said. “At that point I knew we were going to win the game.”

Downers Grove North made it down to Morgan Park’s 5 as the clock’s last seconds ran down. The Trojans, out of timeouts, hurried a field goal attempt. Junior Baker Glomb nailed the 22-yard field goal to give Downers Grove North the 11-8 win as time expired.

“With the hurry up we have to be quick and concise,” Glomb said. “It is all on my holder, too. I give props to him. [Jonathan Nelson] had to have a great hold, and he did it.”

It was the first game-winning kick for Glomb, who also played linebacker.

“It’s a surreal feeling,” Glomb said. “I’ve been training the past four years for this moment.”

Lansu was 10-for-25 for 105 yards with one interception. Illinois recruit Will Vala had four catches for 53 yards. The Trojans had 59 total rushing yards.

“On offense the game didn’t go the way we wanted it to,” Lansu said. “But it is Week 1 and we are playing a lot of young guys. You just have to find a way to win the football game and that’s what we did.”

Morgan Park was an unknown heading into the season. The Mustangs have two star players, receiver Nasir Rankin (Illinois) and defensive end Reed Carmelow (Mississippi), but graduated a load of talented players.

Both lines played well for Morgan Park, and the offensive line is huge, starring Jeremiah Williams, Langston Waithe, Isaiah Richardson, Javair McCain, Daijon Overton, Elisha Coleman-Bowen and Julian McKinnon.

“[Morgan Park] is very talented up front,” Downers Grove North coach Joe Horeni said. “Their coaches do an awesome job. I’m infinitely proud of our defense. Morgan Park has dynamic players on offense, and our kids toughed it out. We had a lot of guys playing both ways that were cramping on a hot day.”

The Mustangs took an 8-0 lead on a 46-yard TD run by William Smith Jr. early in the second quarter. Downers Grove North tied the game at 8 on a two-yard run from Kevin Jay late in the first half.

Sophomore Ronald Smith Jr. was 11-for-23 for 68 yards in his first start for Morgan Park. Gray, a senior, had 16 carries for 53 yards.

“We graduated a lot of guys and we are trying to prove ourselves as a program,” Mustangs coach Chris James said. We just have to finish it off. We have a young quarterback that is only going to get better. And we are just going to get better.”

Morgan Park has another major challenge Week 2 at Nazareth. Downers Grove North will host rival Downers Grove South on Friday.

“We have to continue to grow our timing and I have to make better decisions in some spots and play better,” Lansu said. Overall, we are just happy to get out with a win.”