Scott Hammes’ three big plays lead New Trier past Glenbrook South

NORTHFIELD — If the New Trier football team’s 49-24 victory over Glenbrook South was a boxing match, it was the Trevians’ Scott Hammes who provided the three biggest punches — including the knock-out blow — in Friday night’s Central Suburban South game.

The first wallop Hammes delivered came with New Trier, which clinched a playoff berth with the win, backed up to its own goal line. After Glenbrook South downed senior Sean McDonagh’s punt inside the 1-yard line, Trevians senior Caleb Roth ran for a 2-yard gain to start the drive. Clay Czyzynski (13-for-15, 233 yards, one touchdown) dropped back to pass on the next play, but he couldn’t find any of his receivers and bought time with his legs. The sophomore quarterback scrambled to his right, then launched a long throw toward Hammes down the field.

Hammes, a senior, was wide open behind the Titans’ secondary. He hauled in Czyzynski’s pass and scampered to the end zone.

“I was supposed to run a go [route] on that and I did, but I wasn’t open at first,” Hammes said of his 98-yard touchdown reception. “Clay did a great job of extending the play — rolling out, keeping his eyes downfield and he just found me. … That was an awesome throw, and an awesome play.”

Glenbrook South (5-2, 1-2) responded well after giving up such a long touchdown. The Titans’ running game was effective throughout the night, and it set up a 32-yard field goal by junior Henry Tarbox to cut the lead to 14-3. Then, after a defensive stop, Glenbrook South scored when senior quarterback Fitz Stadler found McDonagh for a 16-yard touchdown pass with 11:24 remaining in the second quarter.

But Hammes put the Titans back on the ropes soon thereafter.

Hammes’ role is substantial this year. He’s New Trier’s starting wide receiver and safety, and the Trevians (6-1, 2-1) are creative in getting him the ball. They run screens, routes down the field and fly sweeps. Hammes comes in motion on the fly sweeps, receives a handoff and then runs wide.

“He’s done a great job for us with that,” New Trier coach Brian Doll said. “We want to make sure he touches the ball. Sometimes it’s hard with passing: We don’t know if they’re going to double-team him, bracket him. But we know when we [run a] fly sweep, he’s going to get the ball no matter what.”

The Trevians ran a fly sweep to Hammes on the first offensive play of the game — it went for five yards — and they tried it again right after Glenbrook South cut their lead to 14-10.

Hammes broke a tackle on his second carry, and sprinted down New Trier’s sideline for a 52-yard touchdown.

“Scott’s tough to catch,” Doll said. “He’s very, very fast.”

Eight New Trier players with at least one rush on Friday night. The Trevians ran for 226 yards as a team. Senior Kevin Mulhern and Roth both finished with two touchdowns apiece.

The Trevians ran a perfect two-minute drill at the end of the second quarter to take a 28-10 lead into halftime. Then, less than a minute into the second half, Hammes delivered the knockout punch.

Glenbrook South senior quarterback Fitz Stadler was hurried in the pocket and he overthrew his receiver. The pass sailed to Hammes, who intercepted it and returned it down New Trier’s sideline for a 36-yard touchdown.

The Titans never threatened to come back after that.

“The exclamation point was the interception run back,” Doll said. “[Hammes] had multiple big plays today, but I know we’re going to remember that one for a while because we stressed that we wanted to get a turnover in the second half when we came out. To start on that first series and score that fast was a big deal.”

Glenbrook South

• Stadler struggled to find a rhythm throughout the game. The senior quarterback finished 3-for-14 with 61 yards, one touchdown pass and one interception.

• Glenbrook South junior Ryan Janczak ran 21 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns.