North Stars blast East Aurora

It took a little less than 20 minutes for St. Charles North's football team to activate a running clock in Aurora on Friday night.

But it made the 8-year wait for the first 3-0 start in school history all the more sweeter.

The North Stars opened their Upstate Eight Conference season by whipping East Aurora, 55-6.

"It was a little tough keeping their heads on straight but they got into the game," North Stars coach Mark Gould said. "East Aurora will hit you and I think they realized they're going to get hit."

It was East Aurora that got hit hardest though.

Running back Jordan Huxtable picked the ideal time to see his first action of the season. While still not 100 percent, Huxtable's first carry of the season went for a 33-yard touchdown with 4:31 left in

the opening quarter.

"He's coming around," Gould said. "We didn't want to do too much, just a little bit and shake the rust off and he looked good."

Two plays after Huxtable's touchdown run, senior defensive back Conner Mohs intercepted a Bryan Robinson pass and rambled into the end zone for the 44-yard score and a 14-0 lead.

"With an all-senior defense with so much experience and speed, I know they're going to get pressure on the quarterback and I can jump the ball," Mohs said. "Spencer Swartz and Ben Dvorak lead for me and it was clear sailing from there."

Clearing sailing all evening as the North Stars continued scoring at a furious pace, reaching the end zone on their next four possessions to close out the first half. Matt Shiltz, Dirk Schmitt and Huxtable (2 carries, both TDs, 43 yards) scored on runs and Conner McShane's had a pass tipped by defenders into the hands of Jeff Stolzenburg who took it in for a 44-yard touchdown.

The game was played with a running clock from 4:08 in the second quarter.

Ryan Jones (4 carries, 38 yards) added a pair of scores in the second half for the North Stars who were just trying to finish the game without any injuries and to get ready for Waubonsie Valley next week.

"It's a great feeling," Gould said. "In the past we always had that loss somewhere in the beginning and that loss keeps you focused. Now it's kind of a different motivation to keep you grounded and we realize it's going to get tougher from now on."