Hinsdale Central, Romeoville, Joliet Central and Stagg were the first four teams to experience how hard it is to move the ball against Bolingbrook’s quick, swarming defense.
Add Joliet West to the list.
Bolingbrook nearly had its third straight shutout — Joliet West linebacker Hakeem Allen returned a fumble recovery late in the game — with its 30-6 SouthWest Suburban Blue win Friday night over the visiting Tigers.
Five weeks into the season, Bolingbrook (5-0, 3-0) has yielded only one touchdown on defense and two field goals.
“Our defense has an attitude,’’ defensive back Jacob Huff said. “We didn’t have this last year and it’s making a big difference. If one guy doesn’t do his job, we have another guy right there.
“It’s not easy to score on this defense. We’ve proven that.’’
Huff’s first-quarter interception set up Bolingbrook’s second touchdown.
The Raiders’ rotating defensive front of T.J. Lee, Bernard Flowers, Max Pleasant, Eli Carbajal and Micah-Dew Treadway, along with linebackers Julian Huff, C.J. Clark and Tuf Borland are a handful.
“They’re so fast, they just run to the ball,’’ Joliet West coach Jason Aubry said. “We did tendencies on them. We know what they’re going to bring. To try to simulate their speed in practice, you can’t do it. They’re everywhere.’’
Joliet West quarterback Anthony DiNardo had passed for 1,021 yards and 12 touchdowns this season going into Friday’s game. The Raiders held DiNardo to 9-of-25 passing for 41 yards and two interceptions.
Bolingbrook scored on its first three possessions and led 28-0 at halftime. Jaden Huff (26 carries, 148 yards) had a 38-yard run during a 66-yard drive capped by his 1-yard plunge to open the scoring.
“In past games we’ve gotten away from me,’’ Jaden Huff said. “That was the thing for this game, to give me the ball a lot.’’
After Jacob Huff’s interception, Bolingbrook quarterback Dariel Greer ran wide right from 41 yards out to make it 14-0 with 2:58 left in the first quarter.
Running back Mike Valentine scored Bolingbrook’s next two TDs — a 13-yard run early in the second quarter and a 10-yarder with 1:02 left in the half. That was set up by Parrker Westphal’s interception at Joliet West’s 22-yard line.
After next week’s SouthWest Blue game against Lockport, the schedule gets dramatically tougher for Bolingbrook. The Raiders finish their regular season with conference match-ups against Homewood-Flossmoor, Lincoln-Way East and Sandburg.
Despite Friday’s loss, Joliet West (2-3, 0-3) still is very much in the running for the state playoffs. Three of the Tigers’ final four games are against Stagg, Joliet Central and Lockport.
“We’re trying to make sure that we get better each week,’’ Aubry said. “We do see the future. … We know it can happen.’’
