De Smet shuts out Glenbard West at Gateway Scholars Football Classic

Spartans off to 2-0 start after beating Kirkwood and Glenbard West

Author:
Nate Latsch, SBLive Sports
Updated:
Sep 3, 2023 2:50 PM EDT
Original:
Sep 3, 2023

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A year ago, Quincy Byas and his De Smet football teammates walked off the field at the Gateway Scholars Football Classic after a 44-point loss to nationally-ranked Florida powerhouse IMG Academy.

Byas and the Spartans could smile on Saturday after an impressive 10-0 win over Glenbard West (Ill.) at East St. Louis High School’s Clyde C. Jordan Stadium.

“It feels good,” Byas, a standout junior defensive end, said. “… Offense did good. They did what they could. Defense really picked it up. We were able to get a win. I like that.”

The No. 17 team in the SBLive Missouri Power 25 football rankings, De Smet (2-0) showed against Glenbard West (1-1), ranked sixth in the Illinois Power 25 rankings, that it is building some momentum early this season under second-year head coach John Merritt.

The Spartans opened the 2022 campaign with losses to Springfield (Ohio) and IMG and finished 7-6 after losing to Lee’s Summit North in the Class 6 semifinals. De Smet’s difficult schedule included losses against eventual state champions: Christian Brothers, St. Mary’s and East St. Louis.

“We’re 2-0 this year,” Byas said. “Last year we were 0-2 at this point. So, really, trying to build mentality, effort and all that kind of stuff. We’re trying to go into these next four conference games and come out 6-0.”

See: Missouri high school football: Top standouts, best performances in Week 2

Byas and the De Smet defense, including senior defensive end and University of Kentucky commit Caleb Redd, intercepted two passes – by sophomore Amari Williams and junior Brayden Wakula – and came up clutch time and time again Saturday in a bi-state showdown that was dominated by defense.

Glenbard West, which was playing without injured standout senior Julius Ellens, was up for the challenge as well.

Hilltoppers junior Mason Ellens intercepted a pass at the goal line early in the second quarter to thwart a potential De Smet score.

The Spartans took the lead with a 45-yard field goal by Ethan Wehmueller with 4 minutes 46 seconds left in the second quarter.

De Smet’s Redd, the Kentucky commit who recorded 21 sacks a year ago, came up with a fourth-down sack late in the third quarter to shut down another Glenbard West series.

The biggest defensive play of the game came with 8:52 remaining when Wakula, a junior defensive back for the Spartans, snagged a leaping interception across the middle.

Wakula’s turnover, which gave De Smet favorable field position, led to a 2-yard touchdown run by senior DJ White with 5:53 left that put the Spartans ahead 10-0.

That was more than enough scoring for Byas, Redd and the stingy De Smet defense on this day as the Spartans registered their first shutout of the season.

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