SCN's 2nd half sparks win over Streamwood
Both Streamwood and St. Charles North have seen this scenario play out before.
With the visiting North Stars leading 14-7 after a strong defensive first half from the Sabres, either team could take control.
North senior Jeff Stolzenburg returned the second half kickoff 84 yards for the second time this season to send the North Stars (5-1, 3-1) on their way to a 35-13 victory that spoiled Streamwood's homecoming at Millennium Field.
"The ball was bobbling and bounced off of a couple guys' hands," said Stolzenburg, who had compiled 115 receiving yards in the first half. "I ran left didn't even get touched. There were a couple of big blocks, one from (Mike) Ghanen."
The loss is the second straight Upstate Eight Conference game that Streamwood (1-5, 0-4) has lost after trailing by a single score at the half.
"All we said at halftime was we needed to make some adjustments," North coach Mark Gould said. "That cushion Jeff gave us really helped."
On Streamwood's first offensive possession of the second half, Spencer Swarts picked up a fumble from Streamwood quarterback Nick Pryor on the Sabres' 17-yard line. North extended its lead to 28-7 two plays later as Ben Hodges (10 rushes, 50 yards) hit paydirt from 14 yards out. Hodges had scored on runs of 2 and 3 yards in the first half.
Brian Pedersen forced Pryor into a second fumble later in the third quarter, this one recovered by defensive back Justin Miller. The result was a Dirk Schmitt 8-yard touchdown run with 5:02 left in the third quarter to put the North Stars ahead 35-0.
Streamwood opened and closed the game on strong offensive notes.
The Sabres took their opening drive 65 yards in 8 plays to take an early lead. Pryor (7-for-16, 74 yards; 18 rushes, 48 yards) found Nick Nykaza on an 10-yard pass. Dion Banda's extra point put Streamwood ahead 7-0 wit h 8:44 left in the first quarter.
"We moved the ball in the first half," Streamwood coach Cal Cummings said. "Our kids showed a lot of poise and did a nice job moving the ball down the field. We're playing great half."
Derrick King added a 90-yard touchdown run on the final play of the game when he broke several North tackles to give the rain-soaked homecoming crowd a positive thought to end the game. King finished with 100 yards on 6 carries.