Redhawks' 6th win doesn't come easy

Needing a win Saturday to guarantee a state football playoff berth, Naperville Central couldn't even manage to score a point in the first half against Glenbard East.

But the Redhawks wasted little time turning things around in the second half - driving 73 yards for a game-tying touchdown on the first possession - on their way to a 21-10 victory that sends the 6-3 squad into the postseason on a high note.

In a game played on West Chicago High School's artificial turf after storms canceled the game originally scheduled for Friday night in Lombard, the Rams took the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards on 10 plays. Jack Merrithey's 33-yard TD pass to Lee Skinner capped the drive and gave Glenbard East (3-6, 1-6) a quick 7-0 lead.

Looking for an upset, the Rams defense stuffed Naperville Central's Nick Kukuc on fourth down and 1 from the 8-yard line. The stop kept the Redhawks off the board after Russell Petty had returned a kickoff 73 yards down to the Rams 17 following the game's first score.

Glenbard East also recovered a pair of fumbles and converted a pair of fake punts into first downs. But the score remained 7-0 as both team's defenses played well after the opening drive. The elusive Merrithey passed for 119 yards and rushed for another 33 yards but was pressured on a regular basis by the likes of Jordan Poll, Tyler Gamons and Alex Schaefer.

When QB Nick Linne hooked up with Kukuc for a 13-yard score to cap the opening drive of the third quarter, the Redhawks were back in business.

"In the first half we were not all working together," said Kukuc, who added a 5-yard scoring run with 1:48 left to play to seal the 21-10 win. "On the fourth-and-1, I was one of 11 guys to not get it done. I knew I had to make up for my mistakes in the second half."

The Rams, however, answered the equalizer right away with a 36-yard field goal by Luke Martinez to retake the lead at 10-7 in the final seconds of the third quarter.

Rams coach Dennis Lueck said: "The kids did play hard. We still had some opportunities down 4 in the fourth quarter but just didn't get it done. Both teams came out and played hard. It was a fun game and we got to play on a nice field."

But Linne and Kukoc, who helped the Redhawks record 12 first downs in the second half after just 3 in the first half, were determined to get Naperville Central its sixth win and most likely a pretty decent seed heading into the postseason.

"It was definitely real important that we score on that first drive," said Linne, who finished 10 of 13 through the air even while top target Riley O'Toole sat out with an injury. "In the first half (the Rams) wanted the game more and it showed."

Redhawks coach Mike Stine credited a strong Rams defense with making matters difficult in his team.

"Give Glenbard East credit," he said. "They came out and battled and they were more aggressive in the first half."

So what changed at the break?

"It was really more mental," Stine said. "You've just got to fight together. At times in the first half we got a little frustrated. But that first drive of the second half was key for us."