One gets it done for Glenbard North
When Evin Natick broke through for a 16-yard touchdown run at the end of the third quarter, he let loose a scream that exorcised a thousand frustrations.
It was the only score Glenbard North needed, but the Panthers needed it desperately in a defensive struggle of epic proportions.
Glenbard North nearly claimed its seventh shutout with a grueling 7-3 victory over Downers Grove South in the Class 8A quarterfinals Saturday in Carol Stream.
Third-seeded Glenbard North (11-1) advances to the program's fifth semifinal appearance to face No. 4 Marist (10-2), a 28-16 winner over top-seeded Fremd, next weekend in Carol Stream.
"We're going to practice hard this next week and prepare like we've done all year," said Panthers linebacker Chris Wahrman.
With Glenbard North trailing 3-0 as the third quarter wound to a close, Natick busted through the line and rumbled 16 yards for the go-ahead score. When Mark Ng converted the extra point to cap a 13-play, 65-yard drive, a gigantic load lifted off an offense that struggled against the stingy defense of No. 7 Downers South (9-3).
"It felt so good, I can't even describe it," Natick said. "We couldn't get anything going all game and we finally pulled one out of our pocket."
The Panthers' defense took over from there, starting with the ensuing kickoff when Pat Maxwell recovered a fumble.
Maxwell and Andre Smith also picked off Downers South quarterback Chandler Whitmer in the fourth quarter, and the Mustangs had an 84-yard touchdown pass from Whitmer to Ryan Oruche called back on a penalty.
Downers South only reached the red zone once when, late in the first half, Glenbard North had the ball on the Mustangs' 23-yard line. An errant snap flew into Panthers territory and the ball was picked up by Downers South's Bryan Loris, who returned it to the Panthers' 19.
The Panthers defense held firm, however, holding Downers South to a 28-yard Mike Ficaro field goal and a 3-0 halftime lead.
"We knew we couldn't make any mistakes, and we just kept coming up big," Maxwell said.
There were 15 punts, 10 in the scoreless first half. Natick needed 32 carries to rush for 85 yards while Whitmer, enduring constant pressure, completed 10 of 30 passes for 129 yards and Mustangs sophomore Josh Williams rushed for 7 yards on 11 carries.
Glenbard North quarterback Tom Traficanti completed 10 of 23 passes for 132 yards, including four completions for 57 yards on the winning drive.
It was the lone blip for Downers South's defense, which had its own highlights including Jarel Culver's fourth-quarter field goal block.
"We didn't click on offense," said Mustangs coach John Belskis. "Part of it is what they did, and part of it is what we didn't do."