AJ Rayford returns, Glenbard West beats Downers Grove North

A pair of former CCL/ESCC players are teammates now at Glenbard West and making a big impact.

Former Providence quarterback AJ Rayford, a junior who missed two games with a hip flexor injury, returned to action on Saturday and sparked a big first half for the No. 8 Hilltoppers in a 35-21 home win over No. 6 Downers Grove North.

Helping to protect Rayford was another junior, 6-8, 300-pound Mount Carmel transfer Josiah Wallace.

The newcomers have helped make the transition to a new program easier for each other.

"We talked together out of school," said Wallace, whose college offers include Purdue. "Stay connected, just keep talking."

He's excited to see how the offense can continue to develop for the Hilltoppers (4-0, 2-0 West Suburban Silver).

"We ran very fast [at the] beginning of the [first] half," Wallace said. "It was a great possession every time. We keep working, every week we're gonna get better. We're gonna go where we want to go."

Glenbard West raced out to a 28-0 first-quarter lead, aided by a pair of lost fumbles by Downers Grove North on consecutive offensive snaps.

Rayford was in the middle of it all. He threw for 89 yards in the quarter, including a 51-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brady Johnson to open the scoring. Bryce Ellens added TD runs of 14 and 55 yards.

"It was great to be back with the team and back with my guys," Rayford said. "We put in a lot of work these past two weeks and I've just been really anxious to get back on the field."

He finished 10-of-14 passing for 167 yards and a TD with no interceptions, throwing just three passes after halftime as the Hilltoppers coasted home with the win.

Glenbard West beat Joliet Catholic and Oak Park while Rayford was out as senior Jack Walti kept the Hilltoppers rolling.

"It was hard [with] me not being on the field and not playing but I knew my guy Walti had it for me," Rayford said. "I had full trust in him that he was gonna get it done."

So did Glenbard West coach Chad Hetlet.

"Jack Walti did an awesome job for us in relief of AJ," Hetlet said. "AJ just has a more developed arm than Jack and that's why he's our starting quarterback. If you can throw the ball and give the illusion you can throw the ball, it loosens things up for your run game. And that's what happened."

Ellens had 78 yards on three carries, fullback Amari Harris ran 15 times for 69 yards and Jamarcus Kelly had two short TD runs.

While Glenbard West got its starting quarterback back, Downers Grove North (3-1, 0-1) didn't. Minnesota commit Owen Lansu remained out hurt, though it's not believed to be a season-ending injury.

"At some point he will [return]," Trojans coach Joe Horeni said. "... There's thoughts of sooner rather than later, but we don't know for sure yet."

Like Glenbard West, Downers Grove North does have a capable backup. Kevin Jay threw a 71-yard TD pass to Illinois-bound tight end Will Vala and finished 11-of-20 for 182 yards with a TD and an interception.

"You can't fumble the ball two times inside the [35]-yard line against a good team who can run the ball effectively," Horeni said. "We have injuries, but who cares? Everybody's got injuries.

"I'm proud of the way our guys fought in the second half. They continue to take coaching and try to execute in the situations they were put in."