Recruiting Wrap

Whitmer on to quarterfinals

Posted by: Jeremy Werner

Thursday, November 12, 2009 10:19 AM

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Sure, Chandler Whitmer had a few butterflies. Who wouldn't with their team down 19-15 in a Class 8A second-round playoff game with just 4:50 remaining? But the Downers Grove South quarterback's confidence skyrocketed when he took a look around the Mustangs huddle.

"It's a pretty senior-dominated huddle," said Whitmer, an Illini commit. "You go in there and you know what it is. You score and go home, and that was our plan. I told them ‘We won't be stopped. We're getting in the end zone.' And we did."

Whitmer led the seventh-seeded Mustangs to a 22-19 upset victory over second-seeded Bolingbrook after plunging in for a two-yard touchdown run with 1:37 remaining, overcoming a 19-7 deficit entering the fourth quarter. Whitmer completed 6 of 9 passes in the second half for 104 yards and a touchdown, after going 4-for-12 for 18 yards in the first half.

The win helped DGS avenge a 16-14 loss to Bolingbrook in the season opener. The Mustangs (9-2) have won nine straight games since dropping their first two games of the season.

"It was unbelievable just to get revenge on those guys," Whitmer said. "Every game - I've played them four times in my career - every game has come down to the wire, and it feels good to get the most important one, move on to the quarterfinals, especially in my senior season."

DGS advanced to the quarterfinals and will travel to Carol Stream to take on third-seeded Glenbard West in a Saturday evening showdown.

"(Glenbard West is) not as talented overall as Bolingbrook - they just had some athletes - but they're very physical," Whitmer said. "They play hard, and they play great defense. They've had a lot of shutouts recently, that's what everyone's been talking about. But we match up well with them."

Saturday was doubly exciting for Whitmer as his future college team defeated Minnesota 35-32, the Illini's second consecutive win after starting the season 1-6. Whitmer plans to enroll at Illinois this spring.

"It's exciting to see the seniors on that team get a couple wins before they graduate," Whitmer said. "They're helping us out for next year, giving us some momentum. I know (Illinois head coach Ron) Zook will be back next year, and it helps from a recruiting standpoint to get a couple of wins. Recruits want to see a couple wins to make sure everything's in place when they come."

The Illini coaches have reassured Whitmer that Zook will return for a sixth season at Illinois.

"I talk to (Illinois co-defensive coordinator Curt) Mallory, and he said Coach Zook will be back and that even if he wasn't, I'd still have a scholarship spot at Illinois - most places honor that. But they say he'll definitely be there. "

Whitmer had even more good news this week. Rivals.com rated the 6-foot-1, 185-pound quarterback the "Most Accurate" Class of 2010 quarterback.

 "That's an honor," Whitmer said. "Being No. 1 in a category at my position is something I've been working for during my entire high-school career. A lot of people talk about arm strength and size. I pride myself on accuracy and getting the ball in my playmakers' hands and letting them do their thing. But I'm not satisfied. I'm always wanting to improve and get better."

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