Glenbard North earns a fun trip home
PADUCAH, Ky. - Despite 7 turnovers, including 5 interceptions, Glenbard North scored 35 unanswered on Saturday to beat McCracken County 35-3 in Kentucky.
The Panthers' Tyrik Henderson had 3 catches for 105 yards and a touchdown, while Josh Flowers had a 33-yard touchdown catch. Maksym Shershen had 16 carries for 110 yards and a touchdown - all in the second half.
After the Mustangs took the lead on a 34-yard field goal from Ben Schofield with 1:14 left in the first quarter, the Panthers answered when quarterback Lee Rady scampered in from 11 yards out. With 9:36 left in the half, the Panthers led 7-3.
Late in the half, Rady found Flowers on a 33-yard touchdown pass. With 1:06 left it was 14-3.
Turnovers were an issue for the Panthers in the first half. They lost the ball five times in the first half, on a fumble and 4 interceptions. But a turnover helped Glenbard North to start the third quarter.
After a fumble from Taeshawn Allen that was recovered by Jayleen Fitzpatrick, the two-way player added to the lead for the Panthers with a 1-yard score. With 10:20 left in the third, it was 21-3.
"When that fumble came, I saw my teammate hit him and that ball fell directly in front of me," Fitzpatrick said. "So it was a perfect opportunity for me to get it. I told my coach that I wasn't that tired because we weren't on defense that long, so three runs and that's it."
On the Panthers' next possession, Rady connected with Henderson on a 68-yard strike. With 8:03 left it was 28-3.
Glenbard North's final touchdown - a 49-yard run from Shershen on fourth-and-9 with eight seconds left - capped a 99-yard drive.
"We've got to be more effective on offense," McCracken County coach Marc Clark said. "We can't give up 35 unanswered points and not answer the bell. Defensively, I thought we played pretty well. We got a bunch of turnovers and generated takeaways, but we've got to be better defensively."
The Panthers (2-2) played the nonconference football game a nearly six-hour drive from Carol Stream. They return home next week to host undefeated Naperville North (4-0, 3-0) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
"We need to get better," Glenbard North coach Ryan Wilkens said. "No question, we've got to get better. We've got a talented team in Naperville North next week (that's) undefeated. We need to play better than we did today."
Elijah Wheat was 15 of 30 for 94 yards and 2 interceptions, while Max Howard completed 3 of 6 for 17 yards and Allen had 19 carries for 59 yards for the Mustangs (1-4).