Chargers can't keep pace with Woodstock

Dundee-Crown stayed with Woodstock through one half of football Friday night at the D-C Bowl, but too many interceptions and not enough offense left the Chargers on the short side of a 31-14 final score on homecoming night.

Dundee-Crown (3-2, 0-1) trailed only 14-7 at halftime of the Valley Division opener for both teams, but Woodstock (4-1, 1-0) opened the third quarter with a 10-play, 50-yard drive that resulted in a 33-yard Scott Rausch field goal that made it 17-7.

Blue Streaks defensive back Keil Mitchell intercepted D-C quarterback Logan Kissack at the D-C 38-yard line 2 possessions later, and Woodstock advanced to the end zone with 7 running plays, capped by Kevin Smith's 1-yard burst with 4:18 left in the third quarter that gave Woodstock a 24-7 lead.

The Chargers pulled within 24-14 with 10:30 left in the game when Kissack spotted senior wide receiver Jeff Beck on a slant pattern to finish off a 66-yard drive. The score was set up by a 32-yard pass to Ian Salvatini (3 receptions, 54 yards) and a 29-yard reception by Willy Larsen, the latter of which set D-C up with first-and-goal at the Woodstock 7-yard line.

The Chargers then forced a Woodstock punt, but their ensuing drive petered out at the Blue Streaks' 43-yard line with an incomplete pass.

Woodstock then sealed the game with a 13-play, 57-yard drive that ate up nearly five minutes of clock. Mike Liedtke made it 30-14 with a 3-yard plunge and Jake Scimeca added the extra point for the final margin.

"Our offense did good in the first half, but we needed to keep on going," D-C fullback Tommy Newman said. "They're a good team. We played our hearts out, that's all we can say."

D-C stayed in the game in the first half by turning away Woodstock scoring opportunities. Josh Boyle, who also had 2 sacks, recovered a Derek Brown fumble at the D-C 21-yard line to end Woodstock's first possession, which had reached as deep as the D-C 1-yard line before penalties stalled the momentum. That was a common theme for the Blue Streaks, who were whistled for 15 penalties for 118 yards.

Woodstock's second drive stalled at the D-C 22-yard line, and a 37-yard field goal attempt came up short.

"They're a good team, a lot better than last year's team," said Brown, who passed for 219 yards but threw 2 interceptions. "They're going to shock some people in the Fox Valley."

The Chargers rushed for only 59 yards, while balanced Woodstock rushed for 200 and threw for another 219. Larsen led D-C with 4 catches for 67 yards, including a nifty 27-yard scoring reception from Kissack.