wild ride into the playoffs

One play decided two teams' destinies.

And because of that play, one team gets to play at least another contest and the other got to put its equipment away until next season.

Wheaton North turned back a Glenbard East two-point conversion attempt in double overtime, sending the Falcons from their home field with a 20-19 victory.

The 15th-seeded Falcons (5-4) head to Rockford for a Class 7A first-round battle against 9-0 Boylan, a No. 2 seed, on Oct. 31 at 1 p.m.

"We've been battling for a long time to get ourselves into the playoffs. It just hasn't happened," Glenbard East coach Dennis Lueck said. "We played well most of the game, but you have to tip your hat to Wheaton North. They made the plays down the stretch, it just wasn't meant to be."

Glenbard East (4-5) was on the move to start the contest. Starting with decent field position on their own 40, the Rams would march down field to the Falcons' 24-yard line. But the drive stalled as Wheaton North defensive back Mark Evangelista intercepted a Jack Merrithey pass in the end zone for a touchback.

After a scoreless first quarter, Wheaton North, on their own 23, put together a impressive drive to start the second.

The Falcons relied heavily on Mekael Wesley (16 carries, 82 yards) as the running back carried the ball 10 plays on the drive, helping his team get to the East 1.

A costly fourth-down penalty forced Wheaton North to settle for a 25-yard Steve Jones field goal and a 3-0 advantage.

"We struggled early on and did not finish plays when we needed to." Wheaton North coach Joe Wardynski said. "Give credit to Glenbard East, they came to play today."

The Rams got a big break with seconds remaining in the first half, recovering a Wheaton North fumble on the Falcons' 10. Two plays later, Merrithey connected with wide receiver Lee Skinner for a 13-yard touchdown pass with 30 seconds left. After a failed Ram extra point, East took a slim 6-3 lead as the first half came to a close.

With poor field position on its own 6 on its first possession of the second half, Glenbard East moved the ball to deep into Falcons' territory after a Steven Kinney (18 carries, 126 yards) 50-yard run up the middle.

Four plays later, Kinney took it into the end zone at 5:13 and after a successful extra point, the Rams were up 13-3.

That's were things would stay until a Reece Butler to Richard Finley 6-yard touchdown pass pulled the Falcons to within three, 13-10, with just 3:43 left to play in the game.

"We knew it was going to be tough to come back that late in the game," Butler said. "But no one wanted the season to end and we never gave up."

With 1:36 to play and near midfield, Butler (17-of-31, 136 yards) drove the Falcons down the field with a perfectly executed sideline pass of 14 yards to Finley and a 7-yard strike to Shaniel Katariwala.

The ball found its way to the Rams' 7. The North drive then stalled. setting up a 27-yard Jones' field goal with 20 seconds left on the clock, and a 13-13 tie forcing overtime.

With both teams unsuccessful in the first overtime, Wheaton North broke the deadlock with a 3-yard Wesley run up the middle. After a Jones extra point, the Falcons clung to a 20-13 lead.

With the Rams facing fourth-and-3, Merrithey took it in the end zone, setting up the dramatic two-point conversion attempt by the Rams.

But the Falcons' defense closed the door on the Rams' season and kept it open for North.

"This was a huge win for our team," Butler said. "We have had our ups and downs this year, but now we get to keep the season alive, it feels awesome."

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