Pitts sets the tone early in Glenbard North triumph
Senior Justin Pitts is known mainly for contributing to the Glenbard North football team's 10 interceptions this season.
Pitts also is a regular on special teams.
The Panthers had no interceptions Friday, but Pitts' blocked punt during the opening series set the tone for a dominating 46-6 DuPage Valley Conference and homecoming victory over Naperville North in Carol Stream.
"We've been practicing all week, really all season, on punt blocking and keeping our hands closer and flying to the ball. Coach (Ryan Wilkens) gave me my chance to go and I just shined," Pitts said.
"We've really been working as a team to get that done and it finally happened. It was really a mood swing for us, changed the game."
The block gave the Panthers (3-2, 2-2) the ball at the Huskies' 17-yard line and led to a 28-yard field goal by Steven Adamatis. They scored touchdowns on three of their other four first-half possessions and roared to a 31-0 lead.
The defense, which especially carried the team in the early weeks, got a 16-yard fumble return for a TD by Devion Hodges and allowed just 44 yards in the first half. The Huskies (0-5, 0-4) scored with 1:09 left and a running clock.
Glenbard North won its third straight and continued the momentum from 34 unanswered points to defeat Glenbard East 41-17 in Week 4.
"I would say this is the best (overall) game we've had so far," Wilkens said. "The blocked punt got us going, and after that we played pretty darn well on both sides of the ball."
Hodges and Vittorio Tricase each had 2 TDs. Isaiah Hawkins' 53-yard TD run in the fourth quarter opened a 46-0 lead.
Quarterback Shane Conway passed for 2 TDs and 125 yards, 101 of them to Jace James with a 19-yard TD and an 11-yard TD to Tricase.
"Our line did a great job of pass protecting and Shane was able to step up in the pocket and deliver nice balls all night," said James, who had his second 100-yard receiving game this season. "We really got in a groove early, throwing a couple of short passes. We were really clicking on all cylinders tonight."
Hodges' fumble return came on the first play from scrimmage after James' TD catch for a 24-0 lead. Hodges, a tailback/defensive back, now has scored TDs this season rushing, receiving and on interception and fumble returns.
"That's a great feeling because it makes me feel like I'm more of an athlete," Hodges said. "I saw (linebacker Alex Taylor) hit the guy, the ball was bobbling and it came out of nowhere. It bounced right up and I was in stride and everything. It was perfect."
Naperville North was mathematically eliminated from the playoffs for the second year in a row. Luke Cegles came in at quarterback in the second quarter and threw for 52 yards. Vic Slopecki threw a 31-yard TD pass to Charlie Cheatham.
"We didn't really get off the bus. They kind of took it to us. They were physical up front and we didn't do enough to beat a good team," Naperville North coach Sean Drendel said. "We're young. We understand that but that's not a good enough excuse anymore. We need to make plays and stop people."
Glenbard North defensive lineman Cam Malkin had extra reason to celebrate. At the pep assembly earlier in the day, he was named homecoming king, but he didn't take part in the halftime festivities.
"I was just focused on doing my best to win this football game," Malkin said. "We came out with a (defensive) stop and it was good but as soon as we got that blocked punt, it was like, 'OK, now we're going to keep going.' "