Neuqua Valley, 42, Streamwood 14
Neuqua Valley kept its playoff hopes alive with a 42-14 homecoming victory over visiting Streamwood Friday night in Naperville.
Before the game, the Wildcats honored their seniors for Senior Night, and one senior showed his appreciation with one final dominating performance on his home turf.
Running back Anton Wilkins, the Wildcats' single-game rushing record holder, ran for 150 yards and 3 TDs. He only played one half, and only carried the ball 9 times.
The Wildcats (4-4, 4-2 Upstate Eight) jumped out to a 35-0 halftime lead, dominating both sides of the ball. Neuqua Valley amassed 259 total yards in the first half to Streamwood's minus 12 yards. The Sabres tried to put the pressure on by blitzing the Wildcats frequently in the first half.
"They blitzed a lot. We didn't expect them to blitz. We were kinda shocked and surprised but we adjusted," said Wilkins, who found a way to single-handedly beat the blitz. When the Sabres crashed the middle, Wilkins broke it outside and outran the Streamwood defenders for a 28-yard touchdown run, his second of the game.
But the Sabres refused to go away. Streamwood (1-7, 1-5) scored 14 straight points behind touchdown runs from Gabe Roman and Daniel Poierier. The momentum was slowly shifting Streamwood's way until Wildcats junior running back Nate Pena broke a 54-yard touchdown with 3:16 remaining in the third quarter to put the final nail in the Sabres' coffin.
"We needed (Pena's touchdown run). We really needed a momentum shift," said Wildcats coach Bryan Wells. Pena finished with 90 yards as the Wildcats amassed 312 yards rushing as a team.
"They are certainly one of the biggest and strongest teams that we've faced," said Sabres coach Cal Cummins. "It's easy in this day and age for kids to lay down when things don't go their way. I think the character we showed was great. I'm proud of their effort."
Neuqua Valley travels to St. Charles North next week as both teams fight for their playoff lives in the regular season finale. It's the first meeting between the two schools.
"It's going to be a great football game. Probably a little more at stake coming into this game then either team would've thought at the beginning of the season," said Wells.