Wauconda passes up Woodstock N. in a thriller

Wauconda sophomore quarterback Kevin Malisheski told his receiver, Josh Anderson, that if he got open his pass was destined for a touchdown.

For a game delayed for about 90 minutes, both Wauconda and visiting Woodstock North put on a show that was worthy of a playoff game. For the home-standing Bulldogs, it looked like North’s 13-7 lead would last the entire game.

That’s before a 16-second span of plays that turned the game around.

First an errant snap on a punt gave the Bulldogs 2 points, cutting the deficit to 13-9.

North was forced to punt. Wauconda took the ball over at its own 32-yard line. That’s when Malisheski and Anderson went into their act.

“I knew their corner backs would bite on it,’’ Malisheski said. “I told Anderson that this would be a TD.”

This 68-yard touchdown pass ignited the Wauconda crowd to start screaming.

Wauconda’s defense took it from there. The Bulldogs erased an early North

lead and posted a 16-13 victory.

“We started out slowly,’’ Malisheski said. “We had a little delay. Actually, it was a long delay.”

Started out slowly proved to be the right observation. North ate up less than two minutes of the clock to march 55 yards for the go-ahead score.

Wauconda’s offense answered back. And these Bulldogs took their sweet time moving the ball.

Frankly, the Bulldogs had a supreme effort from running back Alex Payne. He finished with 20 carries for 107 yards. And when Malisheski limped off the field, Payne slipped into the quarterback role and actually was a perfect 2-for-2 in passing for 12 yards.

Payne scored his team’s first touchdown on a 1-yard scamper. That completed a nearly six-minute drive. Payne carried seven times on the drive.

Malisheski hit Alex Schwickrath on a 20-yard pass play to keep this drive alive.

Wauconda nearly put this game on ice in the fourth quarter. Taking the ball at it’s own 38-yard line, the Bulldogs marched down to North’s 10-yard line.

Payne’s 27-yard dash was the key play of the drive. Malisheski’s fourth down pass play was picked off ending this march.

The Bulldogs had to make one last stand on defense. The final North drive of the long night was helped along by a fake punt and another successful fourth down play. It finally died at the Wauconda 12-yard line.