Waubonsie holds off St. Charles Noth rally

ST. CHARLES — Too close for comfort.

That's what Waubonsie Valley coach Paul Murphy was thinking Friday after his Warriors built a 28-7 lead against St. Charles North but then had to hang on for a 35-28 Upstate Eight Conference victory that leaves them 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the league.

"We go up 28-7 and then we relaxed," said Murphy. "It was the first time all year we've had that big of a lead and we've gotta learn how to play with it."

Joe Storto's recovery of an onside kick with 2:03 remaining helped the Warriors seal the deal.

Senior quarterback Kenny Clay had a breakout game for the Warriors, completing 14 of 18 passes for 264 yards and one score.

"Wow, I can't believe that," said senior wideout Scott Kuehn, who had a TD catch on a 55-yard pass play.

"He's such a dual threat, but over 200 yards (passing)? That's Tyler Castro-like stuff. Then you add his legs. Amazing."

Clay also rushed for 50 yards and TDs of 2 and 19 yards.

"He did an outstanding job," said Murphy, pointing to the scoring throw to Kuehn that gave his team the 28-7 lead.

"It was supposed to go to (tight end Mark) Szott (who had 7 receptions for 114 yards), but they jumped the route and Kenny saw that. He's getting better every week."

Clay, who took a hit to the head and left on the next-to-last play of the game, said Murphy called a great game and prepared the offense well.

"We trusted him and the big thing was, no turnovers," said Clay. "We had 13 coming in and no turnovers tonight."

St. Charles North falls to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the league.

Tre Clark spearheaded a ground game that netted 180 yards by rushing 19 times for 110 yards, including scoring runs of 52 and 13 yards. Waubonsie finished with 444 total yards; the North Stars had 270.

The first half was all Waubonsie Valley, but you wouldn't have known by glancing at the scoreboard, where the Warriors led 14-7.

St. Charles North scored on the opening possession, when elusive junior quarterback Jake Bergren kept the ball on an option keeper and went around left end 59 yards and into the end zone with 8:59 left in the opening quarter. Cory Harmon's extra point made it 7-0.

The hosts then went three-and-out on five straight possessions, giving punter Matthew Scanlon a workout.

The Warriors moved the ball early but didn't answer until early in the second quarter. Clay connected with Kuehn on a 14-yard pass then ran a keeper that netted 15 yards, with the North Stars' Justin Miller making a TD-saving tackle in the open field.

On the next play, senior running back Tre Clark went up the middle and cut outside and motored 52 yards for the score. Kuehn's extra point tied it at 7.

Waubonsie drove to the St. Charles North 11 later in the quarter, but Clay was stopped on fourth-and-1 at the 11, turning the ball over to the North Stars with 2:10 left in the half.

The Warriors defense rose up again. Jakobi Johnson returned Scanlon's fifth punt of the game 9 yards to the North Stars' 45. Clay hooked up with Malcolm Buckner, who was flying down the sideline, for a pass play that netted 41 yards to the North Stars' 4.

Two plays later Clay went in for the score and Kuehn's second kick gave Waubonsie a 14-7 lead.

Waubonsie, getting 84 yards from Clary, rushed for 111 yards. Bergren had 97 to lead the hosts to 112 rushing.

Bergren got untracked in the second half, completing 14 of 16 passes for 152 yards and three scores in his first full game.

"It just kicked in a little and we found a rhythm," the lefty said of the second half. "It took me the first half to settle down."

WAUBONSIE VALLEY 35, ST. CHARLES NORTH 28

Waubonsie Valley          0   14   14    7   --  35

St. Charles North           7    0     0    21  --  28

SCN - Bergren 59 run (Harmon kick).

WV - Clark 52 run (Kuehn kick).

WV - Clay 2 run (Kuehn kick).

WV - Clay 19 run (Kuehn kick).

WV -- Kuehn 55 pass from Clay (Kuehn kick).

SCN - Stolzenburg 32 pass from Bergren (Harmon kick).

SCN - Schmitt 14 pass from Bergren (Harmon kick).

WV - Clark 13 run (Kuehn kick).

SCN - Stolzenburg 18 pass from Bergren (Harmon kick).

TEAM STATISTICS            WV          SCN

First downs                               22             13

Rushes - yards                       42-180      25-109

Comp.-Att.-int.                      15-18-0   15-26-0

Yards passing                           264           161

Total yards                               444            270

Fumbles-lost                             2-0            3-0

Penalties-yards                        7-55           3-32

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing:

WV - Clark 19-110, Clay 17-50, Lockowitz 2-10, Bowman 2-7, Buckner 1-(minus 1), Kolzow 1-4.

SCN - Bergren 11-82, Hodges 4-0, Ghanem 3-10, Schmitt 3-9, Novak 2-1, Huxtable 2-7.

Passing:

WV - Clay 15-18-264-0i.

SCN - Bergren 15-26-161-0i.

Receiving:

WV - Szott 7-114, Kuehn 4-83, Buckner 3-43, Clark 1-24.

SCN - Stolzenburg 6-84, Elliott 3-31, Hodges 3-9, Schmitt 1-14, Novak 1-9, Huxtable 1-6.