Wheaton North sneaks through

One play.

That's what stood between Wheaton North, Glenbard East and a single playoff spot. It went Wheaton North's way, and so did the postseason berth.

The Falcons hung on for a 20-19 double-overtime victory over Glenbard East Friday night in Wheaton, all but clinching their third straight playoff appearance.

And for a third straight year, it took a Week 9 win in the rugged DuPage Valley Conference to get it done.

"This game was real important because we want to stay together at least a couple more weeks," said Falcons running back Mekael Wesley. "This was a must-win game for sure."

After Wesley scored on a 3-yard run to open the second overtime, Steve Jones kicked the extra point to put Wheaton North (5-4, 4-3) ahead 20-13. Glenbard East (4-5, 2-5) scored on fourth down on quarterback Jack Merrithey's 3-yard leap into the end zone to pull within 20-19, and Rams coach Dennis Lueck decided to go for the 2-point conversion and the win.

Merrithey scrambled away from several defenders before finding Connor Frakes clear across the field, but Falcons defender Ryan Coleman stopped Frakes short of the goal line. The Rams also were called for holding, but the Falcons declined the penalty to end the game.

Heartbreak lingered for quite a while on Glenbard East's side of the field. A victory would have sent the Rams to the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

"We've been battling for a long time to get ourselves into the playoffs," Lueck said. "It just hasn't happened, and our kids work so hard. I feel so bad for them."

Two Merrithey touchdown passes put Glenbard East ahead 13-3, a lead that held up until less than four minutes remained in the fourth quarter. Wheaton North quarterback Reece Butler threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Richard Finley to make it 13-10 with 3:43 left.

The Falcons got the ball back at midfield with less than two minutes left and Jones eventually booted a 27-yard field goal in the waning seconds to send the game to overtime.

The teams exchanged missed field goals in the first overtime to set up the double-overtime dramatics.

"It's one of those games you love to be a part of," Butler said. "We played a great team tonight, and our guys just battled back the whole game."