Redhawks pass audition
When you impress a National Football League head coach, you know you've done something right.
In the first regular-season game between cross-town rivals Friday at North Central College, Naperville Central rallied for a stunning 21-17 victory over Neuqua Valley.
The Redhawks played in front of Naperville Central graduate and New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton, who stood on the sideline as an honorary assistant coach and was being filmed as part of a Kenny Chesney music video about NFL coaches and their roots.
You couldn't have picked a better game to film.
The Wildcats (0-2) dominated their way to a 17-0 halftime lead, then watched Naperville Central (2-0) storm back in the second half.
After praising the Redhawks in the postgame huddle, Payton briefly talked about the thrilling second-half comeback.
"I'm glad I wasn't coaching this game," he said with a laugh.
Nick Linne's 7-yard scoring strike to Hayden Daniels narrowed the gap to 17-14 with 8:42 left. On the next possession the Redhawks stopped Neuqua Valley quarterback Joe Ippolito on a fourth-and-1 at the Wildcats' 44.
A 20-yard completion to Cam Brate set up a 15-yard run by Linne. Four plays later, Linne's 4-yard touchdown pass to Brate put the Redhawks ahead 21-17 following Danny Kidd's extra point.
"It was unbelievable," Brate said. "The first and second half, there was such a big difference."
Ippolito and the Wildcats had one more shot with 3:20 left. They worked the ball to the Redhawks' 18-yard line in the final 20 seconds, but a holding penalty pushed back the Wildcats.
Ippolito then ran down to the 13-yard line, but time expired before the Wildcats could get off another play. It was another dose of heartbreak on the heels of last week's double-overtime loss to Naperville North.
"There's two ways a team can go at this point in time," said Wildcats coach Bryan Wells. "We can decide to be crushed, or we can decide we're going to fight and battle and be more determined. That better be how we respond."
Neuqua Valley rolled to a 17-0 halftime lead as Ippolito rushed for 78 yards and a 6-yard touchdown, and threw for 156 yards and a 20-yard touchdown to Dan Meaney. Trenton Snyder added a 38-yard field goal.
The Wildcats outgained Naperville Central 242-62 in first-half yardage, but the Redhawks came out of halftime committed to the run despite the deficit.
Derek Jancik rushed for 40 second-half yards and Linne added 39. It helped open up the passing game, starting with Linne's 19-yard touchdown pass to Pat Caulfield on the opening drive of the third quarter.
Ippolito finished 19 of 30 passing for 262 yards and rushed for 118, but the Wildcats managed only 1 second-half first down until the final drive.
"Just our team coming together is really what won the game," said Linne, who threw for 184 yards and rushed for 39.