DuPage County/Fox Valley football roundup: Naperville North stuns Lincoln-Way East, St. Francis, IC Catholic, Burlington Central, West Aurora, WW South among other Friday winners

Behind a spirited defensive effort led by Gianni Fonash, Brady Marino, John Lyons, Griffin Jurjovec, Will Wagner, and Gabe Hill, Naperville North (5-3, 4-2) pulled off a 14-6 upset victory over previously unbeaten and the No. 1 ranked team in the Class 8A state rankings Lincoln-Way East Friday night in Naperville.

Becoming playoff eligible for the fifth consecutive season, the Huskies ended the Griffins’ 30-game regular season winning streak.

Averaging 45 points per game — with 40 points being their previous low mark this season — the Griffins (7-1, 5-1) were held to their lowest total in 35 games dating back to a 13-3 Class 8A state championship loss to Loyola Academy in 2022.

Fonash and Marino recorded 7 tackles apiece, while Lyons had 6 tackles, and Hill had 3, including a sack. Jurjovec (4 tackles) broke up a pass on the final play after the Griffins drove to the Huskies’ 37-yard line in the final seconds.

Lincoln-Way East’s first 4 offensive possessions resulted in 18 plays for 29 yards.

The Huskies grabbed a 7-0 lead on William Eloe’s 2-yard touchdown run with 1:26 left in the opening quarter. Quarterback Josiah Nothacker completed 3 passes covering 21 yards to Finnian Bretag on the 10-play, 49-yard drive.

Marko Pavlovich’s fumble recovery set up Eloe’s 39-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 14-0 midway through the second quarter.

Lincoln-Way East pulled within 14-6 on Brody Gish’s 6-yard touchdown run with 1:16 left in the third quarter.

Midway through the fourth quarter, the Griffins turned the ball over on downs at the Huskies’ 7-yard line.

John Riordan’s 29-yard punt with less than a minute remaining left the Griffins at their own 16 to start their final possession.

Sandburg 24, Neuqua Valley 21: The Wildcats’ playoff hopes came to an end following Friday night’s 24-21 Southwest Valley Blue loss to Sandburg (6-2, 4-2) in Orland Park.

Tailback Andy Barkley scored 3 touchdowns for Neuqua Valley (3-5, 2-4), which suffered its fourth loss decided by 7 points or less.

Barkley began the scoring with a 20-yard TD run, as the Wildcats grabbed a 7-0 lead. The Eagles then scored 17 unanswered points to take a 17-7 advantage early in the third quarter.

Barkley’s 5-yard TD run closed the gap to 17-14 in the third quarter. After the Eagles made it 24-14, Barkley’s third TD run of the night capped the scoring with a little more than 2 minutes remaining.

St. Francis 35, DePaul College Prep 14: Sophomore quarterback Iggy Amorrortu tossed a pair of touchdown passes and ran for another score to lift St. Francis (6-2) to a 35-14 victory over DePaul College Prep (2-6) Friday night in Chicago.

Starting quarterback Brock Phillip’s 47-yard touchdown strike to Dario Milivojevic got the Spartans on the board in the first quarter before the Rams tied it at 7-all later in the period.

Following Javonte Williams’ interception, Amorrortu connected with Zach Washington on an 80-yard touchdown pass to put the Spartans on top to stay ay 14-7. Amorrortu’s 7-yard rushing touchdown and Chase Torres’ 4-yard TD run extended the margin to 28-7 early in the third quarter.

James McGrath’s interception helped set up the Spartans’ final score — a 23-yard touchdown pass from Amorrortu to sophomore Blayke Lohmann.

With the win, the Spartans earned a state playoff berth.

Addison Trail 23, Oak Park-River Forest 20: The Blazers (7-1) earned their sixth consecutive victory with Friday night’s 23-20 road win over West Suburban crossover foe Oak Park-River Forest.

Falling behind 13-3 following the Huskies’ 3-yard scoop and score fumble recovery in the second quarter, Addison Trail scored 20 unanswered points, closing the deficit to 13-9 on quarterback Nico Dill’s 22-yard touchdown pass to Noah Cruz with 2:03 left in the second quarter.

Following a fumble recovery on the ensuing kickoff, the Blazers took the lead for good at 15-13 on Dill’s 2-yard keeper with 19 seconds remaining in the first half.

Late in the third quarter, the Blazers added some insurance on Dill’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Romeus.

Willowbrook 49, Proviso East 14: Quarterback Jahonise Reed threw 3 first-quarter touchdown passes to help lift Willowbrook to a 49-14 West Suburban Gold triumph over Proviso East (1-7, 0-6) Friday night in Maywood.

With the victory, the Warriors (5-3, 4-1) became playoff eligible and set up a showdown with district rival Addison Trail for the WSC Gold title Friday night in Addison.

Hinsdale Central 65, Proviso West 0: The Red Devils (5-3, 2-3) snapped a 2-game skid with Friday night’s 65-0 West Suburban Silver triumph over host Proviso West in Hillside.

Senior quarterback Riley Contreras connected with Jack Lesniewicz on a 25-yard touchdown pass, and later threw a 43-yard scoring strike to Patrick Connors.

Junior defensive lineman Leo Wencel recovered a fumble in the Panthers’ end zone for a touchdown, while James Skokna added a 77-yard kick return for a touchdown.

Downers Grove South 42, Leyden 10: The Mustangs (4-4, 4-1) kept their playoff hopes alive with Friday night’s 42-10 victory over Leyden.

Daniel Mensah scored 2 of the Mustangs’ 6 touchdown runs, while teammate Joseph Vieyra added a score on the ground for Downers Grove South, which led 21-0 at halftime.

Wheaton Warrenville South 35, Lake Park 14: The Tigers (6-2, 5-1) extended their winning streak to 4 with Friday night’s 35-14 DuKane Conference win over Lake Park (3-5, 1-5) in Roselle.

After Kendan Ratini’s 96-yard kick return for a touchdown helped the Lancers tie the game at 14-all, the Tigers seized control, outscoring Lake Park 21-0 in the second half.

Senior tailback Owen Yorke’s 12-yard touchdown run put the Tigers on top to stay at 21-14, and quarterback Justin Miller’s 45-yard touchdown pass to Kirby Christensen closed out the scoring.

WW South can clinch a share of the DKC title with a home victory against Batavia next weekend.

West Aurora 46, East Aurora 7: Senior quarterback Mason Atkins threw 3 touchdown passes and ran for another — all in the first quarter — during the Blackhawks’ 46-7 Upstate Eight West victory over crosstown rival East Aurora (2-6, 1-4) Friday night.

Atkins, who accounted for all 6 of the Blackhawks’ touchdowns, started the scoring with a 44-yard touchdown pass to Lesroy Tittle. He connected with Antonio Higgins and Brendon Salach on touchdown passes covering 4 and 36 yards, respectively, to make it 21-0.

Following a safety, the Blackhawks capped their 30-point opening quarter with Atkins’ 19-yard touchdown run.

Atkins, who completed 10 of 13 for 154 yards, tossed his fourth touchdown pass, an 18-yard strike to Zach Toma in the second quarter, and added a 10-yard TD run for a 46-0 halftime lead.

IC Catholic Prep 49, St. Viator 9: Junior quarterback Nate Lang threw first-half touchdown passes to 3 different receivers during the Knights’ 49-9 victory over St. Viator (1-7) Friday night in Arlington Heights.

After the Lions took a 3-0 lead on Alex Niemiec’s 50-yard field goal early in the first quarter, the Knights grabbed the lead for good on their next possession, as Lang connected with Quai McGee for a 69-yard touchdown pass with 7:58 left in the opening period.

Foley Calcagno’s 3-yard touchdown run made it 14-3 before Lang and Anthony Carroccio teamed for a 78-yard touchdown pass late in the first quarter.

Isaac Barrientos’ 4-yard TD run extended the margin to 28-3, and Lang’s 30-yard TD pass to McGee with 1 second left in the first half made it 35-3.

Backup quarterback Alex Mitchell added a pair of touchdown passes in the second half for the Knights (6-2).

Montini 49, St. Ignatius 7: Junior quarterback Israel Abrams completed 20 of 24 passes for 441 yards and 4 touchdowns, while adding another on the ground, during the Broncos’ 49-7 victory over St. Ignatius (2-6) Friday night in Chicago.

Overcoming a pair of first-quarter turnovers, the Broncos (8-0) relied on their defense for a pair of crucial stops before the high-powered offense got going.

Abrams tossed a pair of touchdown passes to Luca Florio of 38 and 28 yards, respectively, while hitting Isaac Alexander with a 58-yard TD toss and 21-0 lead.

Montini made it 28-0 at the half on Alexander’s 9-yard touchdown run.

Abrams added a 10-yard touchdown run before connecting with Charles Flowers for a 50-yard TD pass. Damacio Ortegon led the Broncos with 4 catches for 107 yards, as Montini topped the 40-point mark for the fourth straight game.

Orlando Greco had an interception to lead the Broncos’ defense.

Burlington Central 41, Crystal Lake Central 6: The Rockets improved to 7-1 with Friday night’s 41-6 Fox Valley victory over Crystal Lake Central (0-8).

Senior tailback Henry Deering scored a pair of first-quarter touchdowns, while quarterback Landon Arnold added first-half touchdown passes to Trevor Raap (12 yards) and Matthew Bending (10 yards).

Jacobs 44, Crystal Lake South 30: Seniors Justin Gonzalez (10 carries, 100 yards), Caden DuMelle (13 carries, 146 yards), and Michael Cannady (15 carries, 172 yards) each scored a pair of touchdowns during the Golden Eagles’ playoff-clinching, 44-30 Fox Valley win over Crystal Lake South (1-7) Friday night.

Jacobs is now 6-2.