Downers South keeps Lyons off board

Updated: September 3, 2011 2:22AM

Downers South scored twice in a two-minute span of the first quarter, then turned things over to its defense to shut out No. 13 Lyons 28-0 Friday in Western Springs.

Danny Leach provided one of the quick scores with a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown.

“Last week, our offense carried the game for us,” said Leach. “This week, the defense had to step it up. The backups stepped up. We had guys dehydrated on the bench and the backups came in a did the job.”

No. 20 Downers South (2-0) scored the first two times it touched the ball, once without even running a play from scrimmage.

A 33-yard pass from A.J. Simoncelli to Kaylon Miller following a short Lyons punt set up the Mustangs at the Lions’ 3. Three plays later, John Wauer barrelled into the endzone from three yards out to give the visitors a 7-0 lead.

Jeremy Ulrich’s sack of Lyons quarterback Connor Onion at his own 7 forced the Lions to go three-and-out on their next possession. Leach fielded the ensuing punt at his own 40, eluded the first wave and found open field to the end zone for a 14-0 lead.

Lyons (1-1) threatened late in the second quarter, reaching the Downers South 7-yard line on a 19-yard completion from Onion (19 of 38, 249 yards) to Rennick Thompson. But Onion fumbled the snap on third-and-goal and Downers South recovered at the 16.

Early in the fourth quarter, Lyons drove to the Downers South 1, but Jaime Jones was stuffed on fourth down.

Downers South running back Josh Williams broke free for two late touchdowns of 47 and 48 yards and finished with 195 yards on 19 carries.

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