Panthers remember
Glenbard North had it up to here with tough losses to tough football teams.
Friday night in Naperville, it was time for a signature win.
The Panthers notched a big one, clinching playoff eligibility by rallying for a 14-13 DuPage Valley Conference victory at Naperville Central.
Running back Tyler Doll, who missed the bulk of the game with an ankle injury, came back to key an 11-play, 76-yard game-winning drive. Carrying the ball seven times for 29 yards, Doll scored on a 1-yard burst with 2:47 left to tie it at 13-13.
Andrew Shine's extra point made it 14-13, and the Panthers held on the ensuing possession when Andre Smith picked off a pass.
After suffering its three losses to unbeaten teams by a combined total of 16 points, the Panthers finally could celebrate finishing the job.
"A win like this just shows our character," said Panthers linebacker Steve Friedberg. "It shows when we have the teamwork and play as one, we can win some games."
With 42 playoffs points heading into Friday's action, Glenbard North (5-3, 4-2) is a lock for its sixth straight playoff berth. Unlike last year when the Panthers needed a Week 9 win over West Aurora, they won't have to sweat out the regular-season finale.
"It'll be a little more comfortable than last year, getting it a game early," said Doll, who missed the second and third quarters with the injury he struggled with all week. "We're just hoping to get a win next week and get a better seed."
Friday's game boiled down to two things - missed opportunities and special teams play.
Glenbard North overcame three fumbles, including one by quarterback Evan Watkins that went out of the Redhawks' end zone for a touchback. The Panthers also gave the Redhawks the ball at the 20 when a punt snap sailed over punter Mike Carev's head.
Naperville Central, meanwhile, had two passes intercepted, failed to convert on a first-and-goal at the 7 and missed two field goals and an extra point.
The missed extra point with seven minutes left proved especially costly. Naperville Central's Jordan Poll recovered a fumble at the Panthers' 25, and five plays later quarterback Nick Linne fired a 5-yard touchdown pass to Mike Oles to put the Redhawks ahead 13-7.
The extra point went wide, however, opening the window for Shine's extra point to win it.
"We had opportunities, but you can't shoot yourself in the foot against a good football team," said Redhawks coach Mike Stine.
Doll rushed for 26 of his 102 yards on the Panthers' second drive, a drive capped by Watkins' 9-yard touchdown pass to Nick Marks. The Redhawks evened the score at 7-7 on the next possession when Nick Kukuc, who rushed for 70 yards, scored on a 34-yard run.
Naperville Central's final drive of the game ended at its 32 on Smith's interception. Doll ran the ball four straight times to drain the clock as the Redhawks used their timeouts.
Following the last stoppage it appeared the Redhawks were letting Doll go untouched 20 yards to the end zone in an attempt to get the ball back. On the 1-yard line, however, Doll took a knee instead of taking the easy score.
It was an incredibly heady move by a player who vividly remembered earlier this season when the Panthers had a 14-13 lead at Wheaton Warrenville South, only to see the Tigers win the game on a last-second field goal.
This time the Panthers closed it out.
"That was our motivation - remember Wheaton Warrenville South," Doll said.
kschmit@dailyherald.com