The York football team appeared at Downers Grove South High School, dominated and advanced.
The Dukes powered out to a 42-0 lead on their way to a 42-14 victory over Downers South in IHSA Class 8A first-round playoff action.
York (8-3) heads to Wilmette on Saturday, Nov. 7, to face familiar playoff foe Loyola Academy (9-1) in the 8A second round.
“It was a good win for us,” York coach Don Gelsomino said. “We were able to take what was given to us. We were able to run the ball. We did pretty well with our run blocking. We were able to get a few different people involved. It was nice to use a few different things even though they were sending a lot of pressure on us.”
York led 14-0 after the first quarter and 35-0 at halftime. A third-quarter score put the Dukes up 42-0.
Chris Georgas scored on touchdown runs of 59 and 14 yards to put York up 14-0 after the first quarter. A Georgas four-yard run and a 38-yard touchdown pass from Zack Assaad to Georgas sandwiched between a Will Bute 49-yard run put the Dukes up 35-0 at the break.
“Chris Georgas played another incredible game,” Gelsomino said.
Jake Tinch’s 60-yard touchdown pass from Assaad put York up 42-0 in the third.
Assaad finished 13-for-20 for 217 yards and two scores. Georgas ran 14 times for 114 yards and three touchdowns and also caught three passes for 51 yards and a score. Colton Heilig caught five passes for 86 yards.
York outgained Downers South 423-118 with a balanced passing (217 yards) and running (206 yards) attack. York held a 15-4 advantage in first downs and was 5-for-11 on third downs.
York’s defense was equally up to snuff, holding South to 118 total yards and limiting the Mustangs, the West Suburban Conference Gold Division champions, to 1-for-9 on third downs and forcing three turnovers (York was a plus-2 in the turnover battle).
“Our defense played really well,” Gelsomino said. “It was a good defensive performance all around. We had an interception and tackled really well. We held them to 30 yards of offense in the first half. We did a good job containing them.”
Tommy Hosler registered eight tackles (1.5 for loss) and forced a fumble. Matt Young had seven tackles and had a fumble recovery. Greg Witruk had four tackles (1.5 for loss), while Christos Danigeles had four tackles (2 for loss). Liam Larma had four tackles and one quarterback hurry. Blake Yankowski had one quarterback hurry. Aidan Allen had one pass breakup. Colin Anciulis had one quarterback sack, while Joseph Sica had an interception. Luca Diviacchi had one fumble recovery.
York has won five games in a row.
“We’re making less mistakes and not turning the ball over,” he said. “We’re tackling well, these are the things you see against good competition at the end. You watch film and see things you are not doing well at the beginning of the season and doing consistently and you work on them. It’s been good. With the playoffs we’ve been flipping back and forth with home and road. It’s nice to go in there and take care of business. It’s like a business trip, you go in there, work hard and get out of there. We did a good job with that.”
Gelsomino lauded the efforts of Bute, who returned from injury. “Will Bute had been out for a long time,” he said. “I want to give a shout out to him. He played 15-20 snaps on offense and had a 49-yard touchdown run. It was good to get him back. He got his feet wet and under him. He’s one of our senior leaders. He’s been out since Week 4. It’s nice to get him back.”
York now heads to Wilmette for a second-round playoff game against Loyola Academy. This will be the fourth time in five years the two teams have met in the playoffs, including the 2024 Class 8A state-championship game.
“Loyola is very good. That’s not a surprise,” Gelsomino said. “When we watch the film, it’s the same thing we talk about. They are talented and they play mistake-free, good, solid football. That’s what makes it hard. You can have all the talent and this or that, but you turn on the film of them and they are not making mistakes. We will have to play mistake-free football and take care of business because we know Loyola won’t make any mistakes.”
