Wheaton North slips past Lake Park
In the midst of an impressive homecoming fireworks display, Wheaton North junior Trenton Hegranes took advantage of Friday's extended halftime festivities for further field-goal practice.
"I think we had a little extra time," Hegranes said. "I wasn't really feeling too confident, but my teammates were picking me up."
When the Falcons found their spark in the fourth quarter against Lake Park, Hegranes was ready. His second field goal of the game - a 26-yarder with 5:55 left - proved to be the game-winner in the Falcons' 20-10 DuPage Valley Conference victory in Wheaton after tremendous defense by both sides.
Hegranes' first field goal from 24 yards that tied the game 3-3 at halftime caromed off the left upright but went through.
Hegranes also made his first start of the season on defense, playing free safety and helping the Falcons (3-2, 2-2) allow just 184 yards and 9 first downs by the Lancers (2-3, 1-3).
"They're definitely both very important. I just like to go out there and play (defense or kick), help the team any way I can," Hegranes said. "It's just great that the coaches trusted me to go out there and get (the late field goal)."
It was the first time the Falcons led. The game-tying TD was set up by a blocked punt from Nevada-bound senior Danny Walker, out the last two games with a shoulder injury.
The winning field goal was set up by Bo Neidballa's fumble recovery at the 30-yard line after Lake Park's coaching staff argued its running back already was down.
"I thought both teams played really well (defensively)," Wheaton North coach Joe Wardynski said. "We talked about trying to finish a ballgame tonight, and the kids did it, which was great. We created some turnovers, which gave us some short fields and we capitalized."
Down 13-10 and getting the ball at its 24, Lake Park then had a muffed handoff three plays later that Walker recovered at the 27, leading to a 9-yard insurance TD by Singleton.
After both teams continued their first-half scoring struggles, Lake Park scored on the opening possession of the second half on a 40-yard TD pass from Jackson Behles to Danny Spejcher, who beat a defender in the air to make the catch before proceeding down the left sideline.
The Falcons then marched to the Lake Park 15 but failed to convert on fourth-and-6. But then the Wheaton North defense had a three-and-out and Walker blocked the punt and Romel Taylor returned the ball to the 15. Sam Singleton, who rushed for 153 yards and 2 TDs, scored four plays later for a 10-10 tie.
"Rough night. They busted their (butts on defense)," Lake Park coach Chris Roll said of his players. "They really held on a punt block and two fumbles. I tell them every team we play is going to play like this. It's midseason and everyone is trying to climb into the playoffs."
Zach Deardorff's 31-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead came after Taylor broke up a potential third-down TD catch by Kobe Whirl in the back of the end zone.