Hinsdale Central takes command early in showdown with rival Hinsdale South

HINSDALE — The showdown in the trenches between a pair of Division I recruits never really materialized Saturday in the annual nonconference battle between rivals Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South.

When Hinsdale South junior Josh King reinjured his ankle in the first quarter, Hinsdale Central senior right tackle Stefan Ivanisevic faced a less-experienced opponent as he cleared the way for running back Juwan Edmond and quarterback Matt Rafferty.Central defeated District 86 rival South 42-14 in the 32nd annual Doings Cup in Hinsdale. The Red Devils (5-2) scored 42 straight points until South (5-2) scored in the third quarter on Dylan Boye’s 15-yard touchdown run. It was the largest margin of victory in the series since the Devils won 48-13 in 2010.Both 6-7, 230-pound King and 6-5, 280-pound Ivanisevic returned to action after missing the previous week due to injuries. King’s ankle kept him out of the 35-10 victory over Leyden Oct. 3 and Ivanisevic played for the first time since suffering a game-ending concussion in a 42-7 loss to Glenbard West Sept. 26.

King’s return was short-lived and he didn’t return to the game after tackling Edmond (11 carries, 96 yards, two TDs) for a three-yard loss.

King, ranked by many as the No. 1 college prospect in the state for the Class of 2016, has scholarship offers from nine Big Ten schools, according to Rivals.com, as well as Oregon, Florida and Notre Dame. Ivansevic has drawn interest from Indiana State, South Dakota and Western Illinois.

Sophomore Aaron Woods replaced King and made his varsity debut after getting called up from the sophomore team earlier in the week. The 6-3, 220-pound Woods finished with three tackles.

Woods discovered that getting past Ivanisevic was much harder than sophomore tackles he has faced.

“I’m told that I’m very fast. Some people have called me very fast for my size,” Woods said. “It wasn’t hard [facing Ivanisevic], but when he gets his hands up into you, it’s hard.”

In the second half, Woods alternated snaps with junior Khyree Beyah at defensive end. The Hornets were already playing without nose tackle Jamar Taylor (dislocated left elbow), right tackle Malik Gordon and leading rusher Marcus Curry due to injuries. Barry said Curry is expected to return in Week 8 at Morton.

• Central took a 20-12 lead in the series and likely clinched a playoff berth for first-year coach Dan Hartman.
• Central scored in the game’s third play from scrimmage after South’s Jawahn Downing fumbled the opening kickoff at his own 27-yard line. Rafferty (13 of 17, 279 yards) tossed the first of his four TD passes on a 24-yard strike to Thomas Ives (five catches, 93 yards).
• “We got down early,” South coach Mike Barry said. “This was a good, hard lesson for our guys, but now we have to move forward.”