Neuqua catches breaks

The Wildcats took advantage of every extra life they had Friday night. Neuqua Valley capitalized on a crucial Plainfield Central mistake en route to a 36-21 victory in nonconference action.

Neuqua (1-1) rolled up 320 total yards as senior quarterback Alex Lincoln scorched Plainfield Central for 187 yards through the air. One of the timely touchdowns came seconds before the end of the first half.

"We ran the same plays on our passing touchdowns," said Neuqua coach Bryan Wells. "It may have been a different formation, but they were the same plays."

The play that swung the momentum in Neuqua's favor came after a Lincoln pass was intercepted at midfield by senior linebacker Keith Marry. Clinging to a 7-6 lead, it looked as if Plainfield Central would roar back with the ball in Neuqua territory. Instead, a devastating 15-yard roughing-the-passer penalty negated the interception and rewarded Neuqua with new life. The Wildcats marched down the field and capped the 6-play series with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Lincoln to senior Connor Yearian.

"Alex played the way he's supposed to," Wells said. "He's capable of being a heady football player, and even after a couple picks, he bounced back which is really important."

The penalty was just one of many committed by both teams during the contest. Plainfield Central, however, was the recipient of several that certainly hurt their chances of victory.

"We cannot have those kind of mistakes," said Plainfield Central coach John Jackson. "It will be addressed, and I never thought this would be the team to deal with. It cost us because of silly mistakes."

Plainfield Central (1-1) pulled within 8 after junior back Alonzo Morgan plunged into the end zone for a 1-yard run with 28.2 seconds left in the first half. But Neuqua answered quickly.

After fielding a squib kick, the Wildcats put together a 64-yard drive in 21.5 seconds. Senior running back Nathaniel Pena uncorked a 31-yard run into Plainfield Central territory. Lincoln then found senior receiver Michael Camire for an 17-yard strike, and finished the drive with a 16-yard pass to Yearian in the corner of the end zone.

"We weren't happy giving up that late score," Wells said. "But to see our offense run down the field like that was really special."