Naperville Central 37, Lake Park 13

Mike Stine thinks his Naperville Central Redhawks may be able to throw the ball as well as any football team in the state.

Boy, do they look that way right now.

Redhawks quarterback Harrison Daniels completed 16 of 23 passes -- to six different receivers -- for 284 yards in a 37-13 win over Lake Park on Friday night in Roselle.

"He's poised, we have a few weapons and he can distribute the ball," Stine said. "That's our offense, is distributing the ball."

After a Week 1 loss to Waubonsie Valley, the Redhawks (1-1) came out like a team in no mood to duplicate last year's 0-3 start.

A high snap on a Lake Park punt gave Naperville Central a quick safety, and on the Redhawks' ensuing possession Daniels hit Riley O'Toole for a 27-yard gain to set up Nick Kukuc's 4-yard touchdown run for a 9-0 lead.

"We're a different team than last year," Daniels said. "We knew it would come a lot quicker, winning games."

O'Toole scored on a 57-yard reverse on Naperville Central's next possession, putting the Redhawks ahead 16-0 with 2:13 still remaining in the first quarter.

Daniels completed his last 8 passes of the first half, to five receivers.

"This offense can be very explosive," Daniels said. "We were clicking there in the first half. We had it all going."

With starting halfback Michael Caulfield slowed by an early leg injury, Kukuc scored his second of three touchdowns to give Naperville Central a 23-0 lead with 6:35 remaining in the half. He hauled in a 26-yard touchdown pass on a post pattern in the back of the end zone over two defenders.

"I didn't even think he was going to catch that one," Daniels admitted. "I just threw it up, trying to throw it out of bounds. He made a heck of a catch."

Quarterback Larry Nawrot got Lake Park (1-1) on the board with a 27-yard touchdown run late in the first half, and the Lancers pulled within 23-13 with 5:24 left in the third, Chris Jasinski running in a 17-yard score.

But Naperville Central answered immediately, scoring in six plays. Daniels' 45-yard pass to Mike Schmitz and a 10-yarder to tight end John Holm set up Daniels' 6-yard touchdown run.

Lawrot completed 13 of 31 passes for 146 yards for Lake Park.

"I think it was going to be their night, the way they were playing and the way we were," Lake Park coach Andy Livingston said. "It didn't help getting down early. It sort of puts the dobber down on some of the kids."