No Cinderella story for Panthers
Turnover troubles hit Glenbard North's football team throughout this season.
Saturday in Wilmette, those same troubles ended it.
A year after taking a magical ride to the Class 8A final, Glenbard North's 2008 run came to an early close with a 26-14 first-round loss at Loyola Academy.
Taking advantage of nearly all of their quality chances, the No. 7 Ramblers (8-2) recovered a fumbled punt return that led to their first touchdown, and then added a late interception return for an insurance score.
In between came just enough plays by cagey quarterback Lucas Ruske to keep the No. 10 Panthers (6-4) at bay. Despite a handful of its own big plays from Northwestern-bound quarterback Evan Watkins and hard-running tailback Tyler Doll, Glenbard North's offense struggled much of the game.
"You can't have turnovers and win games," said Doll, who had 21 carries for 126 yards, including a 51-yarder that led to a go-ahead touchdown midway through the fourth quarter. "You can't take anything away from them. They played a great defensive game."
Loyola took a 13-7 lead on Ruske's 27-yard touchdown pass to Michael Johnson, but the extra point was muffed. Doll's 51-yard burst eventually led to Watkins' 17-yard scoring strike to Andrew Ngyuen, and Andrew Shine's extra point gave the Panthers a 14-13 advantage with 6:46 left in the game.
"I was trying my best to be cool," said Ruske, who threw for 141 yards and 3 touchdowns and rushed for 120 yards. "I said to all the guys, 'We've got six minutes to get the ball in the end zone or our season ends here.' Everyone stepped up on that last drive."
Ruske connected with Jack Begley for a 36-yard touchdown pass, but a failed 2-point conversion kept the margin at 19-14. On the Panthers' next possession, though, Watkins' pass was intercepted by Philip Rdzanek and returned 55 yards for the backbreaking insurance score.
Glenbard North took a 7-0 first-quarter lead when Doll snared a screen pass from Watkins and scored from 32 yards out. After the fumbled punt return on the Ramblers' next possession, Ruske fired a 29-yard game-tying pass to Begley.