Naperville N. wins in second overtime

Naperville North's Idris Hanidu had waited to put his stamp on a high school football game.

The 5-foot-7 senior's 10-yard sprint around the left side in double-overtime gave the Huskies a 28-21 victory against nonconference host Neuqua Valley on Friday in Naperville.

"Last year I was backup to Nick Mlady. It was hard for me, but I just took my time, been patient and just waited for my opportunity to come," said Hanidu, who gained 78 yards on 18 carries.

"I saw the opening, I saw my offensive linemen create the big hole for me, and I just pounded it in."

It dimmed an eye-opening game by Neuqua Valley quarterback Joe Ippolito, whose 10-yard run to start overtime and Trent Snyder's kick gave Neuqua a 21-14 lead.

Naperville North quarterback Matt LaCosse sneaked in on fourth and 8 inches - a series saved by Huskies center Nolan Randall's fumble recovery on first down - and Ryan Corp's kick tied the score 21-21.

"I'm just happy he recovered the ball," LaCosse said of Randall. "That saved the game."

After Hanidu's touchdown, Naperville North's defense stopped Ippolito on two running plays and an incomplete pass. On fourth down Jack Krejci and Evan Prendergast sniffed a screen pass and wrapped up Snyder outside the 10-yard line.

Ippolito, in his first start at quarterback, ran for 172 yards and 2 touchdowns and completed 13 of 30 passes for 119 yards and a 20-yard touchdown pass to Bob Herzberger for Neuqua's first points of the year.

"They were a very good defense, I'm going to give them that, but I kind of surprised myself," said Ippolito, out all but the last three games of his junior year with hip and back trouble. "The confidence is a big key, a very important thing. I felt like I was a confident runner out there and I did what I could."

Wildcats coach Bryan Wells said, "He's certainly not a secret to anybody anymore."

Naperville North's Jon Ryan ran for 55 yards with touchdown runs of 2 and 3 yards, the latter tying the game 14-14 with 8:37 left to play.

Each team had chances thereafter, but Neuqua's Andrew Shonkwiler and T.J. Rhattigan each made interceptions. Naperville North's Nick Lifka countered with a defensive strip recovered by Prendergast.

"I think two pretty evenly matched teams played tonight," said Huskies coach Larry McKeon, "and one team comes away a winner."