Last-second field goal ends Glenbard North's season
Glenbard North's football team boasts one of the most stingy defenses in the state, but three little points were all it took to keep the Panthers from fulfilling a dream.
Marist's Ben Falloon kicked a 23-yard field goal with one second left to edge Glenbard North 17-14 in the Class 8A semifinals Saturday night in Carol Stream.
As the Panthers' quest for the program's first state football championship comes to an end, Marist moves on to play Maine South in Saturday's title game in Champaign.
"It's not the way we wanted it to turn out, but we didn't quit," said Panthers quarterback Tom Traficanti, who threw for 170 yards. "I'm disappointed we lost, but Marist is a great team. More than anything I wish we could have this game back."
Glenbard North (11-2) overcame a third-quarter red-zone interception in the end zone to take a 14-7 lead with 6 minutes, 28 seconds left in the fourth quarter. An 11-play, 77-yard drive ended with a 3-yard scoring run by Evin Natick, who grinded out 89 tough yards on 29 carries.
Marist (11-2) answered with a game-tying 10-play drive, capped by Western Michigan-bound quarterback Mike Perish's 1-yard scoring sneak.
On Glenbard North's ensuing possession, Marist sacked Traficanti on consecutive plays to set up a fourth-and-25 at the Panthers' 5-yard line. With 1:35 left following a punt, the RedHawks got the ball at Glenbard North's 30-yard line.
A a pass and three runs set up Falloon's game-winning field goal.
"Every kick's the same," Falloon said. "That's the only way you can be consistent."
The showdown between Marist's explosive offense and Glenbard North's wicked defense played to a draw until Falloon's kick.
The RedHawks survived their lowest-scoring effort of the season while Glenbard North's defense, which surrendered its first playoff touchdowns against Marist, bent just enough in the fourth quarter as Perish completed 10 of 12 second-half passes.
Perish finished 20-of-30 passing for 199 yards and a 14-yard third-quarter touchdown pass to go-to receiver Dan Piko, who caught 9 passes for 117 yards.
"We've worked so hard for this," Piko said. "It's just paid off."
Glenbard North opened the scoring when Traficanti lofted a 42-yard touchdown pass to Mike Carev late in the second quarter. The RedHawks tied it with Perish's third-quarter pass to Piko.
"We fought to the end, I mean, we weren't going to quit," said Panthers defensive lineman Chris Gavigan. "We've blocked a lot of kicks this year, and we thought we could block that one. But that happens. We had a great season."