David Cesario, Jon Werthman make most of opportunities for Downers Grove North at Maine West

DES PLAINES – Downers Grove North’s David Cesario touched the ball three times on Friday.

His teammate, Jon Werthman, also had his hands on the football three times.

But Cesario and Werthman made the most of their limited touches.

Cesario intercepted three passes and Werthman scored two touchdowns and added a fumble recovery to lead Downers Grove North to a 35-14 win over Maine West in a Class 7A first-round playoff game in Des Plaines.

“David and Jon played awesome for us,” Downers Grove North coach Joe Horeni said.

The Trojans (6-4) advance to play Wheaton Warrenville South on at 1 p.m. Nov. 9 in Wheaton.

Cesario and Werthman were the unlikely stars of the game for the Trojans. Before Friday, Cesario had not intercepted a pass all season.

“I just played out of my mind,” Cesario said, smiling. “The coaches stressed turnovers all week in practice, and we were ready for this game. It’s something about week one (playoffs). I can’t even remember my last interception, probably before high school. It’s unreal to get three. I did a lot of preparation for it.”

Cesario, a senior, played special teams last year and started on junior varsity. He transitioned to a two-way starter this year, helping the Trojans reach the next round with his stellar play.

Cesario, also a tight end, intercepted two passes in the second quarter in a span of just under four minutes that shifted the momentum. His final pick, with 9:42 left in the third quarter, came in the midst of three straight touchdown drives by the Trojans.

Led by Cesario’s three interceptions, the Trojans managed to hold Maine West quarterback Danny Kentgen to 139 yards passing. Kentgen threw for 2,260 yards and 31 touchdowns in the regular season.

At one point in the game, Kentgen sandwiched four incompletions — all dropped passes — around two interceptions, both by Cesario.

“Maine West throws the ball really well and David Cesario played unbelievable,” Horeni said. “The coaches had him prepared.”

Donning jersey No. 47, Werthman made a big impact on offense, defense and special teams. His 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown knotted the score at 7-7. The senior added a strip sack and fumble recovery on the same play in the fourth quarter, and scored on a 20-yard touchdown run on his lone carry of the game with 3:10 left in regulation.

When asked about his favorite play of the game, Werthman had no problems making a choice: “Because I’ve been a defensive player the whole time, my favorite was the strip sack. I loved the 92-yard kickoff return, though.”

The Trojans’ season-long stars, quarterback Drew Cassens and running back Josh Lumpkin, were naturally at the center of the victory. Cassens had 24 carries for 115 yards and a touchdown. Lumpkin, a senior running back, finished with 20 rushes for 100 yards, including a highlight-reel 41-yarder on third down in the second quarter that gave the Trojans a 14-7 lead.