The York football team got itself back into the win column in dramatic fashion.
The Dukes defeated Class 7A state No. 4 Downers Grove North 18-17 in overtime when quarterback Zack Assaad threw a two-point conversion pass to Anthony Massel to end the game.
The win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Dukes, who moved to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in West Suburban Conference Silver Division action. Downers Grove North came into the game unbeaten and dropped to 6-1 and 4-1 in WSC Silver play.
Under the new IHSA expanded playoff format, York is listed as a playoff qualifier with four wins. The IHSA website shows 240 teams have clinched playoff spots with 144 spots remaining.
“It was a good one,” York coach Don Gelsomino said. “We needed a win. We did very well.”
York’s defense held Downers Grove North to 241 total yards and limited the Trojans to 3-for-9 on third-down conversions.
“Our defense played really well,” Gelsomino said. “Our guys up front have been playing really well all year and played well here. We were able to slow down the run game and it worked out well. The defensive line was the star of the show. They really responded. We were able to control Downers North’s big plays. They have an outstanding running back (22 carries, 98 yards, 1 touchdown) and we were able to control him better than most other teams have been able to. Downers Grove North is a great team. We were able to get a couple three-and-outs and limit their big runs. It helped us.”
That defensive line included the likes of Owen Roberts, Braden Byford, Blake Yankowski, Beau Walker, Vince Howard and Colin Anciulis.
Tommy Hosler led the defense with 10 tackles, one tackle for loss and a sack. Matt Young had nine tackles, while Max Bui had eight tackles. Christos Danigeles and Roberts each had seven tackles. Yankowski had 1.5 tackles for loss, while Howard had one tackle for loss and Walker was credited with 0.5 tackles for loss. Aidan Allen had a pass breakup, while Byford had two quarterback hurries and Liam Larma had one hurry.
Downers North led 7-0 after the first quarter. York running back Chris Georgas scored on a 54-yard run in the third quarter to tie the score at 7-7.
The two teams traded fourth-quarter field goals with York hitting a 20-yarder to go up 10-7 and Downers connecting from 36 yards out to tie the game 10-10.
In overtime, Downers North scored first on a three-yard run to go up 17-10. Georgas scored from 10 yards out to make it 17-16 and Gelsomino went for two with Assaad finding Massel for the game winner.
“In most high school situations like that I am going for two, but not all the time,” Gelsomino said. “It’s a play from the three-yard line. You look at the conditions and the statistics and it’s better than going into another overtime. We were on defense first so we would have been on offense first in the second overtime. It all depends on the situation a little bit. I felt two was the right call. It paid off. We did a good job on the play. Anthony Massel was kind of covered right away and shook his guy off and got open. We had the look we wanted and we got it.”
Georgas ran 27 times for 158 yards and two touchdowns. Assaad completed 8 of 12 passes for 80 yards. Chris Winton caught two passes for 40 yards, while Georgas had three catches for 16 yards.
The Dukes head to Glen Ellyn Saturday afternoon (1:30 p.m. start) to face Glenbard West (5-2, 3-1) in another WSC Silver game.
“This was huge,” Gelsomino said of the Downers North win. “We lost two close games in a row (Oak Park-River Forest and Hinsdale Central by 3 points each) and we got our momentum back. We have two very tough games coming up (Glenbard West and Lyons Township) before the playoffs. We’re battle tested and resilient. We’ll keep putting four quarters together and see what happens.”
