Wheaton North 28, West Aurora 15

When it was do or die, the Wheaton North defense passed its test with flying colors Friday night in Aurora.

Junior halfback Mike Trumpy was the offensive star for the Falcons, shredding the West Aurora defense for three scores and 207 yards.

But it was the Wheaton North defense in general and secondary in particular that preserved its 28-15 DuPage Valley Conference victory over the Blackhawks.

The Falcons had a trio of interceptions at their own goal line, and John Sambo stopped a fourth West Aurora red-zone possession with a bone-crunching hit at the Wheaton North 3-yard line to cap an outcome far more competitive than its double-digit verdict suggested.

"We played with heart," said Wheaton North junior safety Jack DeAno, who had two of the Falcons' three picks as West Aurora was seemingly poised to strike.

"We gave it all with our heart."

The league rivals have identical 3-2 overall and 1-2 conference marks with the Wheaton North win.

The Blackhawks had first-and-goal at the Falcons' 3 yard line minutes into the game, but DeAno snuffed the

drive with his opening pick.

"That just set the whole tempo," said DeAno.

The Falcons proceeded to run off 21 unanswered points; sophomore quarterback Taylor Graham connected with Corey Thonn from 37 yards out for the opening salvo, and Trumpy had scoring jaunts of 74 and 27 yards.

But West Aurora refused to wilt.

Quarterback John Nunnally traversed the entire field to put the Blackhawks on the board with a 40-yard scamper that was part of their season-high 230-yard output on the ground.

"We got into passing formations and ran out of it," said West Aurora coach Buck Drach. "They weren't sure what was coming at them."

Both teams had scoring opportunities to close out the

half, but Wheaton North extended its 21-7 lead at intermission to three scores when Trumpy capped a third-quarter short-field drive.

"We knew (Trumpy) was that good," said Drach.

West Aurora responded behind senior halfback Colton Winston, who had a 10-yard burst on the opening play of the fourth quarter as part of his 25-carry, 129-yard evening.

The Blackhawks were soon back in business, marching 47 yards in six plays for another first-and-goal at the Falcons' 5-yard line.

But Wheaton North stuffed four consecutive runs, the last by Sambo as Nunnally sought his second touchdown keeper of the night.

The final West Aurora drive ended with under two minutes to play when DeAno added his second goal-line

interception to negate a Falcons' safety on the previous possession.

"(West Aurora) is a heck of a team and very well-coached," said Wheaton North coach Matt Foster. "What I was most pleased with was our character."