Neuqua Valley 45, St. Charles North 0

When his team sported a 2-4 record three weeks ago, even Neuqua Valley junior quarterback Alex Lincoln doubted whether the Wildcats could recover in time to reach the state playoffs.

"Heck, I didn't think we were going to make it to the playoffs," Lincoln said. "I hoped we would, but I didn't think it would happen."

Later tonight the Wildcats (5-4, 5-2) will receive the official word from the Illinois High School Association if they will advance to the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season. They are expected to have enough playoff points to earn a bid.

Lincoln played a big role in the regular-season finale, completing 10 of 18 passes for 213 yards and 4 touchdowns during the Wildcats' 45-0 Upstate Eight Conference triumph over host St. Charles North (5-4, 4-2) Friday night.

After an apparent 57-yard touchdown run by the North Stars' Kyle Harmon on the fifth play from scrimmage was called back because of a holding penalty, Neuqua Valley seized control, scoring touchdowns on each of its first four possessions while building a 28-0 halftime advantage.

"That didn't help," North Stars coach Mark Gould said of having the first-quarter touchdown nullified by a penalty. "But I don't know if it would have changed the whole outcome of the game.

"I thought they came out flying high. They came out ready to play, and once they got some momentum going, we couldn't stop it."

Anton Wilkins capped a 6-play, 80-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown, the first of his 4 touchdowns for the game, to make it 7-0.

Less than two minutes later, the Wildcats made it 14-0 as Lincoln tossed a 37-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Schaffer.

Schaffer, who missed the first seven games of the season with a hip injury, finished as the game's leading receiver with 3 catches for 107 yards.

"It's great to have Josh back," Lincoln said. "He had a lot of big catches today. He was my go-to guy last year at the sophomore level."

A bad snap on a North Stars punt helped set up the Wildcats' third score -- a 7-yard shovel pass to Wilkins from Lincoln. The same duo hooked up on an 18-yard scoring strike late in the first half.

"We've simplified some things and he's much more comfortable, much more confident," Wildcats coach Bryan Wells said of his quarterback.

While Neuqua Valley's offense was clicking, its defense was equally impressive, limiting St. Charles North to just 25 yards rushing.

"I'm proud that we've stepped up because people have been saying how bad we

are," said Wildcats linebacker Britt Andros. "It's really annoying to keep on hearing that it's our defense's fault."