Waubonsie Valley’s Harper Cole made a sharp, explosive move past a Wheaton North cornerback.
More Top Picks Best Calming Lights For Autism Bedrooms
Cole, a junior wide receiver, then snared the 26-yard touchdown pass from Tanner Westwood with just over four minutes left in the third quarter Friday night to cut a 14-point deficit into a one-score game.
“Our team has no quit in them,” Cole said. “I am glad in how we fought.”
It was a fight to the end for the Warriors, who were eager to extend the program’s impressive run of playoff qualifiers.
But a season of wild and dramatic conclusions came to a close in Wheaton as Waubsonie had its 10-year state playoff run snapped with a 20-10 DuPage Valley loss.
Warriors coach Paul Murphy experienced his first losing season in his 13 years at the school. Waubonsie (4-5, 4-4) suffered its first losing season since 2003.
“We were not a bad football team,” Cole said. “We just struggled finishing some games. It started at the beginning of the year when we lost to Lake Park in the final seconds.
“I apologize to all the seniors it did not work out the way we wanted.”
Waubonsie had won three of its previous four games. The Warriors’ season has not lacked for highlights or encouraging performances, either. Waubonsie has been involved in scores of 36-34, 43-37 and 35-32.
The Warriors were trying to ride the momentum of last week’s 42-35 win at Naperville North. Senior tight end Charles Robinson was disappointed in the lack of carryover.
“We did not come out like we did last week,” Robinson said. “We started lackadaisical on offense and I think it carried over to the defense.”
Consistency has been a recurring issue.
“The team tonight was not the same one that played against Naperville North last week,” Murphy said. “We struggled the whole year learning how to put two good games together.”
In his final game, Westwood completed 17 of 26 passes for 211 yards and a TD. Wheaton North’s Trenton Hegranes came up with two of his three interceptions in the second half.
Cross Holmes drilled a 29-yard field goal at the start of the second quarter for the Warriors’ only lead at 3-0.
Hegranes also kicked field goals in each half. Running back Sam Singleton rushed for 112 yards on 22 carries. He scored on an 11-yard run and a 24-yard pass as the Falcons (7-2, 6-2) built a 14-3 halftime lead.
The turnovers and penalties doomed the comeback, but the underclassmen promised a return to form.
“We have to grit in the offseason and come back harder next year,” Cole said.
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Beacon-News.