North escapes Neuqua with win in double OT

Neuqua can't close in double overtime

Neuqua Valley fell to the ground, just short of what would have been a landmark victory for its program. Naperville North came spilling from the sideline, exhaling at the end of the second overtime.

The Huskies survived with a 28-21 double overtime road win on Friday night in Naperville. Idris Hanidu, who rushed for 78 yards, scored the go-ahead touchdown and a North defense that forced three turnovers came up with the final stop.

"We played well enough to win," North coach Larry McKeon said. "There was nothing flashy about what we did tonight. (We've) got a lot of growing up to do yet. We walk away with the win and we feel good about that but we still have much work to do."

North entered the game ranked No. 7 by the Chicago Sun-Times, and having scored 82 points combined in its season-opening wins over Neuqua the past two seasons. This opener didn't play out that way.

All night the Huskies (1-0) had problems containing Joe Ippolito, a spread quarterback operating out of the shotgun.

The senior ran 24 times for 172 net yards and two touchdowns, one of which came while sprinting right on the first play of the first overtime. Ippolito also threw a 20-yard jumpball touchdown pass to wide receiver Robert Herzberger, finishing the game at 13-of-30 for 119 yards and an interception.

"Everybody was very, very fired up," Ippolito said. "The one thing I emphasized was: 'Believe. Believe that we can do this.' (They) got the message and we took it to them. It just slipped out of our hands at the end."

With Neuqua leading 14-7 right before the end of the third quarter, Ippolito appeared to complete a pass to Yoel Wonsey around North's 40-yard line. Huskies linebacker Jack Krejci ripped the ball and ran it all the way back to Neuqua's 26 with 4.3 seconds left in the quarter.

"We're not gonna carry this team but we're a big part of this team," Krejci said. "We're trying to lead (and) give up as few points as possible. Let the offense do what they can do. (Our) defense really stepped up big tonight when it counted."

Krejci finished with nine total tackles and two sacks. The turnover set up Jon Ryan's second touchdown run, a dive on fourth-and-goal from the 4 with 8:37 left in regulation that tied the game 14-14.

Neuqua (0-1) had trouble converting those types of chances. Wildcat linebackers T.J. Rhattigan and Andrew Shonkwiler both intercepted Matt LaCosse passes thrown in Neuqua territory during the fourth quarter.

Neither plays yielded points. An Ippolito pass to the end zone on the last play of regulation fell incomplete. LaCosse made up for it with a successful quarterback sneak on fourth-and-inches in the first overtime.

Neuqua, which began varsity play in 1998, purposely strengthened its schedule this season, feeling it was about time. It finally hung with North, but couldn't close out the game.

"We weren't as far away as people thought we were," Neuqua coach Bryan Wells said. "But we didn't get the door slammed."