Naperville Central 35, Glenbard North 28
The Naperville Central football team played in the first half like it was in a hurry to earn a playoff spot.
It spent the second half fending off Glenbard North.
Using their no-huddle offense to start the game for the first time all season, the Redhawks scored the first 3 touchdowns in rapid-fire fashion and held the lead the rest of the way for a 35-28 DuPage Valley Conference win Friday night in Carol Stream.
"We can score very quickly and as you could see at the end we can sustain long drives to win the game," said Naperville Central quarterback Harrison Daniels, who got hit hard throughout the contest but still completed 17 of 20 passes for 255 yards and 2 touchdowns while running for 80 yards on 13 carries.
"He became a football player today," Redhawks coach Mike Stine said with a smile. "That's OK. He's out there with a football uniform on. He can take a shot. He'll be fine."
Glenbard North coach Ryan Wilkens credited Daniels and his receivers, admitting it's difficult to prepare for their no-huddle attack.
"It's hard to simulate that tempo," Wilkens said.
Naperville Central (5-3, 4-2) scored quickly in building a 21-0 lead.
The Redhawks needed only 2:03 to drive 80 yards for their first score. Nick Kukuc ran for gains of 29 and 14 yards before negotiating through the right side for a 30-yard touchdown.
The visitors took just 1:17 to produce each of their next 2 touchdowns. Daniels connected with Mike Schmitz for a 50-yard scoring strike. Then, after Naperville Central's Jordan Poll recovered a Glenbard North fumble on the Panthers 23, Daniels hooked up with tight end John Holm for a 13-yard TD.
Glenbard North (4-4, 3-3) answered with an 8-play, 65-yard drive culminated by Evan Watkins' 6-yard scramble for a touchdown with 2:57 left in the first half.
Naperville Central took a 21-7 lead into intermission after stuffing the Panthers' shovel pass on a fake 22-yard field-goal attempt on the final play of the half.
Glenbard North pulled within a touchdown three times in the second half. The Redhawks answered with a touchdown on the first two occasions before running out the clock on the final one.
Kukuc finished with 118 yards on 21 carries.
Glenbard North's Tyler Doll rushed for 141 yards and scored a 1-yard TD on 29 attempts. Watkins threw for touchdowns of 19 and 69 yards.