Hinsdale Central, Hinsdale South roll to Week 8 blowouts

Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South each rolled to lopsided victories Friday, Oct. 9, combining for 96 points as both playoff-bound programs headed into the final week of the regular season.

Central demolished Proviso West 49-6 at home, improving to 5-3 overall and 2-3 in the West Suburban Silver. South traveled to Morton and won 47-14, moving to 4-4 overall and 4-1 in the West Suburban Gold.

Red Devils cruise past Proviso West

Central's offense, powered by quarterback Beau Gatewood's nearly 1,800 passing yards and 15 touchdowns entering the night, faced a Proviso West squad that came in 1-6. The Wolves had been outscored 260-30 over their previous six games, according to Shaw Local's Friday Night Drive.

Gatewood has spread the ball to four receivers with double-digit catches this season. James Skokna leads that group.

The win strengthens Central's playoff positioning. The Red Devils reached Class 8A's second round in 2025 and had already clinched a return trip before Friday's kickoff. Head coach Brian Griffin, now in his eighth season, said of the senior-heavy roster in an August preseason interview with The Hinsdalean: "… this is a really close-knit, hardworking group that's been really fun to work with. We have the largest senior class that we've had in like five years."

With Downers Grove North clinching at least a share of the Silver title Friday, Central is out of the conference race. The Red Devils close the regular season at Oak Park-River Forest in Week 9.

Hornets roll Morton, eye strong finish

South's 47-14 win over Morton was equally decisive. The Hornets, who as we reported Oct. 8 clinched their first playoff berth since 2018, piled on points against a Morton team that entered 1-6 and had scored just 13 points over its previous two games.

Quarterback Ben Miller and receiver Koby Armstrong have been South's primary playmakers. Armstrong caught two touchdowns and recorded an interception in the Hornets' Week 7 loss at Downers Grove South.

South sits one game behind Downers Grove South (5-0 in Gold) in the conference standings. The Hornets host Leyden in the Week 9 finale.