Neuqua wallops St. Charles North

October 20, 2007

FROM STAFF REPORTS

ST. CHARLES -- Neuqua Valley quarterback Alex Lincoln threw for 223 yards and five touchdowns as the Wildcats ruined the Upstate Eight Conference title hopes of St. Charles North in a 45-0 rout Friday night.

The North Stars (5-4, 4-2) fell behind 28-0 at halftime before allowing 17 more points in the third quarter, turning it into a running clock with 2:32 left in the quarter. Neuqua (5-4, 5-2) scored touchdowns on four of its first five possessions to take command, despite the North Stars shutting down star tailback Anton Wilkins, who had only 54 yards rushing, but caught three touchdown passes.

"We knew Anton is a force and were geared up to stop him," North coach Mark Gould said. "Their quarterback was on and it surprised us how well he threw the ball tonight. That was one of the big differences in the game."

Quarterback Nick Neari finished 9 of 21 for 125 yards and one interception for the North Stars, who had a touchdown called back on the game's opening drive and never recovered. Jonathan DeMoss led North with 36 yards rushing, while Nic Higgins caught five passes for 75 yards.

Byron 24, Genoa-Kingston 14 -- Marty Dwyer scored on a 38-yard touchdown run and Chris Wilkins added a 1-yard TD run, but Genoa-Kingston (7-2, 3-2) was upset by Byron (4-5, 3-2) in its bid for a Big Northern Conference West Division title.

Huntley 40, Grayslake Central -- Huntley's Jordan Neukirch scored the game's first touchdown on a 6-yard run and went on to a 122-yard rushing effort in a season-ending Fox Valley Conference Fox Division win.

Huntley (4-5, 3-2) got eight points from its defense -- Austin Drougas' 49-yard interception return for a TD and a safety.