DGN took on York Friday night in their first conference game of the season. Kickoff was originally slated for 7 PM but weather warnings called the game into question. IHSA policy dictates that once the game is suspended 30 minutes must pass from the last lightning strike until play can resume. Players and spectators returned to the field and York finally received the opening kickoff at 8:15 PM. 

The Trojan defense came out strong to start the game, forcing York to a 3rd and 21 and eventually a punt from inside the Duke’s own 10-yard line. DGN’s offense took the field but immediately gave the ball back to York via a fumble by quarterback Sam Reichert on his very first play. York found themselves facing 2nd and 27 a poor snap, they tried to pass but DGN safety Khalil Copeland came up with a big interception. The Trojans would end up punting on the drive this created but York’s punt returner couldn’t catch the ball, allowing DGN to recover with great field position. They would make it all the way to the 4 yd line but ended up settling for a field goal. Kicker Sean Ryniec drilled the chip shot kick to score the game’s first points. DGN cornerback Brooks Johnson made an impressive one-handed interception to stop York’s next drive with 1:53 left in the quarter. That made for the game’s fourth turnover in just the first 10 minutes, the sloppy first quarter ended with DGN leading 3-0.

York took the lead fairly early in the second quarter; the Dukes found the endzone on a 95-yard play with 8:00 left in the half. Now down 7-3, the ball was returned to York via an interception thrown by Reichert, his second of the game. York would go on to score another touchdown with 1:53 remaining as they entered halftime leading 14-3. 

The third quarter was mostly quiet before York added on to their lead with a third touchdown off of a quarterback draw play. DGN’s lone second-half score also came during the third quarter when Reichert found Ethan Thulin for a 60+ yard touchdown. This cut the Trojans’ deficit to just eleven points entering the final quarter as they found themselves a tough but not insurmountable two-possession lead. Midway through the final quarter York scored their fourth total touchdown of the game to extend the lead back to 18 points. DGN ran out of time as York assumed victory formation and kneeled out the clock; the final score was 28-10.

York was held to under 30 points for the first time all season and DGN became the first team to score more than seven points against the Dukes so far, but ultimately it wasn’t enough as York remained undefeated and maintained first place in the West Suburban Silver Conference.

This week the Trojans will travel to Hillside where they’ll play their second straight conference game, this time against Proviso West. Not only are the Panthers 0-4 so far this season, they currently hold a 21-game losing streak dating back to October 2018. Proviso West has not scored a single point all season, they’ve been outscored by a total of 215-0 over four games; teams are averaging approximately 53 points per game against the Panthers. It’s important never to overlook opponents but this should be an easy one for the Trojans.