Down, not out

When Glenbard North's Mike Fierro got Naperville Central's Sean Kelly in his grasp Friday at Memorial Stadium, it illustrated Central's situation as a team. By losing 14-13 to the Panthers, the Redhawks fell further from the playoffs.
Danielle Gardner / Staff photographer

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After dispatching West Chicago last week, Naperville Central head coach Mike Stine spoke of unfinished business.

Stine referred to the unreached goal of a sixth victory this season, which would guarantee his Redhawks a playoff berth.

On Friday night - Senior Night, no less - Glenbard North, the 2007 Class 8A runner-up, was the only thing left standing between Stine's charges and that all-important sixth win.

Unfortunately for Central, 14-13 losers, in large part because it was its worst enemy at times, win No. 6 will have to wait until next week's regular-season finale at Glenbard East.

"(It was a) hard-fought game," Stine said. "We made too many mistakes against a good football team to win ... We had missed opportunities. We had the ball inside the (Glenbard North) 3 (and) we didn't score. Our defense got some turnovers - we didn't score. Our special teams were not very good."

Despite all of that, Central's defense forced three turnovers and put its offense in many advantageous situations. But two missed field goals and an extra point from senior place-kicker Jonathon Hutchison, along with two interceptions from junior quarterback Nick Linne, negated any momentum that Central's defense gleaned.

A 1-yard touchdown run from Panthers senior running back Tyler Doll with 2 minutes, 47 seconds left in the fourth quarter proved to be the winning score as Central (5-3, 3-3 DuPage Valley Conference) failed to capitalize on numerous opportunities.

Doll's game-winning score punctuated an 11-play, 76-yard drive, which allowed the Panthers (5-3, 4-2 DVC) to escape town with a victory that makes them playoff eligible.

In addition to his touchdown run, Doll racked up 100 yards on 20 carries.

"Outstanding drive and we just kept pounding it," Glenbard North coach Ryan Wilkens said.

Thanks in large part to its defense, Central's offense started two second-half drives in Panthers' territory.

After Redhawks senior defensive lineman Jordan Poll recovered Glenbard North's third fumble on the night with 10 minutes remaining in the game, Linne and the Redhawks' offense set up at the Panthers' 25-yard line.

Five plays later, Linne found senior wide receiver Mike Oles in the end zone for a five-yard touchdown, staking Central to a 13-7 lead right before Hutchison's missed extra point - which set the stage for Doll's heroics.

Linne finished 11 of 23 for 131 yards passing with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Late in the first quarter, Glenbard North jumped on top 7-0 with a 9-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Nick Marks from Northwestern-bound senior quarterback Evan Watkins.

Central was able to answer Marks' score quickly, traveling 65 yards in just three plays, culminated by a 34-yard run from senior running back Nick Kukuc to knot the score at 7 with less than three minutes to play in the opening quarter.

"That run ... I had so much emotion running (through my body) for this game," Kukuc said. "I was just so excited when I was able to run through that play. I thought for sure that this game was gonna go our way."

All Central can do now is try to put the loss behind them and look forward to Glenbard East on Friday night in Lombard.

"You know what, if they can't get up for that game, they shouldn't be on the football team," he said. "If you can't get up to play one football game to win - to earn the right to make the playoffs - then you should turn your gear in. It shouldn't be a problem to get them up."