Naperville Central 27, W. Aurora 13

Poise is a very important trait for quarterbacks to possess, what with blitzing linebackers and big defensive linemen constantly trying to knock them down.

It was a trait that came in very handy for Naperville Central's Harrison Daniels on Friday night in the Redhawks DuPage Valley Conference football opener with West Aurora (2-1, 0-1). Daniels took what could have been a disastrous play and turned it into gold. In the process he helped Naperville Central (2-1, 1-0) hold off the Blackhawks 27-13.

Facing a third-and-11 at the West Aurora 36-yard line in the second quarter, Daniels lined up in the shotgun formation only to have an errant snap sail way over his head. By the time Daniels chased down the loose ball, he was back in Redhawks territory with a pair of Blackhawks in hot pursuit.

Instead of panicking he raced out to the right to avoid the rush and headed upfield a few yards before connecting with Chris Heikkinen down the right sideline for a 36-yard touchdown that broke a 6-6 tie. West Aurora did draw even at 13-all at the half, but Daniels and Nick Kukuc each ran for second-half touchdowns and the Redhawks defense blanked the visitors the final two quarters to close out the win.

"We actually practice that, and I just made a play on it," Daniels said of the key play. "And at the half we knew we were in good shape. We just had to punch it in a couple more times."

For the Blackhawks it was a frustrating night trying to contain Daniels, who went 18 of 27 through the air for 222 yards and also scrambled for a 14-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter for what proved to be the game-winning score.

"That quarterback does a nice job back there," West Aurora coach Buck Drach said. "He waits and waits and then comes up with big plays."

Blackhawks linebacker Terran Buck also made his share of plays, coming up with several tackles and numerous big hits. But it was not enough to contain a balanced Redhawks attack that saw Kukuc rush for 104 yards and two scores and also saw four receivers gain at least 34 yards in catches.

"He's a good football player," Drach said of the 215-pound senior linebacker. "We need a lot more like him who care."

Even with top tailback Derrick Smith out with an injury suffered last week, West Aurora used a 51-yard TD pass from Johna Nunnally to Theo Hicks and a 9-yard scamper to the end zone from Nunnally to match the Redhawks two scores in the first half.

But Nunnally finished just 14 of 33 on the night while under constant pressure, including a pair of timely sacks recorded by the Redhawks' Riley Dulleck, who was seeing his first action of the new season.

"This is Dad's Day and it's his dream to see me play varsity football," Dulleck said after hugging his father on the field. "He's crying right now, but this is great."