Neuqua Valley tops Plainfield C.

NAPERVILLE -- During Week 1 of the football season, Plainfield Central High School did most everything right during a 47-25 victory over Elgin.

That wasn't the case on Friday when Plainfield dropped a 36-21 nonconference decision to Neuqua Valley.

"We did not come into this game as focused as we have been," Plainfield Central coach John Jackson said. "We were not prepared to play and it definitely hurt us.

"We had too many yards in penalties. Many of those penalties occurred at crucial times in the game as well."

Plainfield Central (1-1), which trailed 27-13 at halftime, had 77 yards in penalties.

Neuqua Valley (1-1) scored first on a 27-yard pass from Alex Lincoln to Josha Schaffer. A bad snap on a Plainfield Central punt helped set up that score.

With 8:52 remaining in the first half, Plainfield Central's Anthony Bjorklund scored on a 1-yard run.Luke McGann intercepted a pass to set up Plainfield's first score.

Later in the second quarter, Lincoln threw another TD pass to Schaffer -- this one for 35 yards -- to give Neuqua Valley a 13-6 advantage.

Lincoln then found Conner Yearrion on a 12-yard scoring play to make it 20-6 with 4:05 left in the first half.

Plainfield Central's Alonzo Morgan scored on a 1-yard dive to cap an 11-play, 59-yard scoring march. That cut the margin to 20-13.

But with 2.9 seconds left in the first half, Lincoln threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Yearrion to make it 27-13 at intermission.

That 68-yard drive by Neuqua Valley took only three plays.

"We dug ourselves a hole in that first half and couldn't get out of it," Jackson said. "We tried to come back in the second half, but were never able to build any serious momentum."

On Plainfield Central's second possession in the second half, a ball was hiked over the punter head's into the end zone for a Neuqua Valley safety.

That safety put Neuqua Valley ahead 29-13.

Lincoln threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Michael Camire with 2:22 remaining in the third quarter. Camire caught a 26-yard pass on third down to keep the 5-play, 45-yard touchdown trek alive.

Plainfield Central's scored with 2:26 remaining in the game when junior running back Brock Douglas scored on a 10-yard run. Douglas also added the 2-point conversion run.

Douglas finished with 55 yards rushing for Plainfield Central. Junior Brian Meeks had 53 yards.

Plainfield Central senior quarterback Alex Parks was 6-of-18 for 54 yards.

Neuqua Valley wa led by Nathan Pena's finished with 115 yards on 15 carries. Senior Desmond Nolen had 33 yards.

Plainfield Central, which had three players rush for 100 yards against Elgin, begins Southwest Prairie Conference play at 7 p.m. Friday when it hosts Plainfield North.