Downers Grove North beats Lyons to clinch a share of the West Suburban Silver title

As the postgame celebrations wrapped up on the Downers Grove North sideline on Friday after the No. 19 Trojans knocked off No. 22 Lyons 17-10, a fan yelled: “Great job, Horeni!”

The compliment was for Downers Grove North coach Joe Horeni. These days, it is rare to hear a fan say anything positive about a coach, much less at the top of their lungs.

“I did a double-take,” Horeni joked. “I don’t know who it was, but I appreciate it. I know my family is already gone.”

Horeni has built one of the state’s best defenses. He has multiple coaches on staff with decades of experience and a group of players who pay attention to the details that make the difference on key plays, like Downers Grove North’s goal-line stand at the end of the first half.

“[Lyons] mixes up their looks a lot but they keep the same personnel, so it is hard to tell what they are going to do,” Trojans safety/running back Grant Georgas said. “We were prepped really well all week, studying film and stuff like that.”

Downers Grove North (7-1, 5-1 West Suburban Silver) forced a fumble on the goal-line stand at the end of the second quarter, and defensive end Declan Davies fell on the ball to end the threat.

Davies and the Trojan defense held Lyons star running back EJ Kuhlman to 84 yards on 26 carries. Kuhlman’s five-yard run late in the third quarter was the Lions’ only touchdown.

Downers Grove North has allowed just 61 points all season.

“It really takes a lot of camaraderie and togetherness, especially on the defensive side of the ball,” Davies said. “Especially in the red zone. Our team really pulled it off today, and I’m proud of all my boys.”

Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

Downers Grove North wound up with a short field on its first three possessions and led 17-0 at halftime. Georgas finished with 16 carries for 100 yards. He opened the scoring with an 11-yard TD run in the first quarter.

“[That field position] is a huge lift,” Georgas said. “When you can start at the 50 instead of the 20 or 25, it gives you so much more confidence to call whatever you want and not have to go through a long hard drive.”

The Trojans lost to York last week, but the victory against Lyons (6-2, 3-2) clinches at least a tie for the conference title.

“We don’t win conference championships very often around here,” Horeni said. “It is a tough league. That is pretty special.”

Downers Grove North quarterback Joey Goodwin was 8-for-11 for 56 yards with one interception. Lyons quarterback Brendan McCabe was 9-for- 15 for 114 yards.

“We had a lot of mistakes on offense,” Lions coach Jon Beutjer said. “One or two guys on certain plays not doing their job. And in football, if that happens, the chances of having success go way down. A lot of uncharacteristic mistakes. But I’m proud of the way our kids battled.

“This is a really good group. They are close, and they play hard. They care. But we are going to use this, learn from it, and get better.”