In its first six games, not only was top-ranked Naperville Central never in danger of losing, but it did not allow a single point.
In Week 7, the Redhawks’ shutout streak was snapped and its winning streak almost was in a 31-30 victory over DuPage Valley rival Glenbard North Friday night.
Naperville Central (7-0, 5-0) trailed 24-23 when Matthew Yellin scored on a 5-yard touchdown run and Phil Horvath completed a two-point conversion pass to give the Redhawks a seven-point lead with 1:32 left.
Glenbard North pulled to within one point as Brian Mitchell barreled in from 7 yards out with 47 seconds left.
The Redhawks, despite being in an unaccustomed position, came through as it stopped Glenbard North’s two-point conversion pass. Naperville Central then recovered the ensuing onside kick to preserve the victory.
“We kept our poise very well,” Yellin said. “We kept executing just like we were in practice, and everybody played their hearts out. Glenbard North played a great game as well. It was just a great high school football game.”
Kyle Griffith finished with 177 yards in 29 carries to lead Naperville Central. Griffith scored two touchdowns–one rushing and one receiving.
Mitchell led Glenbard North (4-3, 2-3) with 134 yards in 26 carries and three touchdowns.
Up next: Friday at Naperville North.
2. Lincoln-Way: Casey Paus was 9-of-17 for 91 yards passing and threw for two touchdowns as No. 2 Lincoln-Way (7-0, 5-0) rolled past Homewood-Flossmoor 45-7 in the SICA Blue.
Joe Schimmel rushed for a touchdown and caught a scoring pass from Paus. Lou Foytik ran for 61 yards in seven carries and scored a touchdown to lead Lincoln-Way.
Up next: Friday at Joliet.
7. Naperville North: For the second straight week, the No. 7 Huskies (7-0, 5-0) held off an opponent’s late comeback, this time keeping Wheaton-Warrenville South at bay to claim a 26-24 DuPage Valley victory.
Wheaton South (4-3, 2-3) rallied from a 19-3 deficit in the second half and twice pulled to within two points of the Huskies.
Jay McCareins had two touchdown passes and Steve Sarm added a 78-yard touchdown run for Naperville North.
Up next: Friday at home vs. Naperville Central.
8. Rolling Meadows: Abe Jones rushed for 108 yards in 21 carries and scored three touchdowns as the No. 8 Mustangs (7-0, 3-0) downed Hersey 28-0 in the Mid-Suburban East. Quarterback Joe Wright got Rolling Meadows on the board with a 16-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Jones scored on a 5-yard run in the second quarter and added scoring runs of 29 and 12 in the fourth. Joe Manahan added 107 yards in 11 carries for the Mustangs, which racked up 245 rushing yards.
“The field was a little slippery,” Wright said. “We tried to work the short-yardage game, and for the most part that worked.”
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Rolling Meadows’ defense held Hersey to just nine yards rushing and recorded six quarterback sacks. With the victory, the Mustangs clinch a playoff berth.
Up next: Friday at Wheeling.
10. Marian Catholic:Mike Kimberlin had a 2-yard touchdown run and Jarrod Nowman returned an interception 15 yards for another score as Bishop McNamara (5-2, 3-2) upset No. 10 Marian Catholic 15-0 in the Catholic Metro White.
Kimberlin rushed for 100 yards in 33 attempts to lead McNamara, which scored all 15 points in the fourth quarter. Nowman finished with two interceptions.
Deon Bradley rushed for 59 yards in 19 attempts to lead Marian (5-2, 3-2).
Up next: Friday at Notre Dame.
15. Plainfield: Eric Cederblad completed just four passes–all for touchdowns–as No. 15 Plainfield (7-0, 5-0) romped past Geneva 38-0 in the Suburban Prairie Red. Aaron Kuester had 12 rushes for 177 yards and scored three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) for the winners. Brandon Shreve had three touchdown catches for Plainfield.
Up next: Friday at home vs. Minooka.
16. Downers Grove North: Quarterback Kyle Kleckner rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another as the No. 16 Trojans (6-1, 3-1) defeated York 20-3 in the West Suburban Silver. Kleckner scored on runs of 1 and 21 and tossed a 7-yard scoring pass to Dan Welsh for his only completion of the game.
Adam Brook kicked a 25-yard field goal to put York (2-5, 2-2) on the board in the first quarter.
Up next: Friday at home vs. Proviso West.