Naperville Central knocks out Bolingbrook
It was the exact hard-nosed football game Naperville Central expected from Bolingbrook.
After an exhausting effort on both sides, the Redhawks managed to find that something extra in the second half.
Quarterback Conor Joyce and a fierce effort from an unsung defense led the Redhawks to Friday's grueling 14-7 victory over visiting Bolingbrook in the opening round of the Class 8A playoffs.
Joyce's 2-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter - his fourth straight carry on the 33-yard drive - proved to be the game-winning score against a Bolingbrook team riding a wave of momentum following last week's upset victory over previously unbeaten Homewood-Flossmoor.
Sixth-seeded Naperville Central (9-1), which hasn't lost a first-round game in five straight appearances dating back to 2008, advances to the second round to face Saturday's winner between No. 22 Warren (5-4) and No. 11 Curie (8-1).
"I felt good with my legs and it was opening up when I was running the ball," said Joyce, who threw for 175 yards and rushed for 100. "If that was what it took, then I was just going to keep rolling with that. It wasn't really planned, just after that first draw we kept going to it."
Naperville Central trailed 7-0 for two full quarters after Trevon Anderson's 25-yard interception return for a touchdown gave No. 27 Bolingbrook (5-5) a 7-0 lead in the final minute of the first quarter.
A flurry of missed scoring chances hampered the Redhawks, none more frustrating than when the Raiders' T.J. Lee stuffed running back Luke Brady on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line just before halftime to preserve the 7-0 margin.
After a 14-play drive to start the second half again resulted in no points, the Redhawks broke through. The defense forced a three-and-out and Naperville Central on the ensuing drive moved 59 yards in 10 plays - including conversions on third-and-22 and fourth-and-2 - capped by Brady's 4-yard game-tying touchdown run.
Midway through the fourth quarter Joyce put Naperville Central on his shoulders for the game-winning drive that put the Redhawks ahead for good at 14-7.
"We knew we had to execute, and once we got rolling we started to get that swagger back," said Redhawks defensive back Matt Meier. "We said we weren't going to let them score all game, and that's what happened."
Finally playing with a lead, Naperville Central's defense took over from there. The Raiders had only four second-half possessions with the first three ending in three-and-outs.
Bolingbrook got the ball with a last chance to score in the final two minutes, and started strong with a 31-yard pass play from Mike Freeze to Kendall Smith. On the next play, however, Meier snared an interception to seal the win.
"It took 48 minutes," said Redhawks coach Mike Stine, whose program notched its 11th playoff win since 2011. "We play the game to get seven more days because it's about the relationships and the brotherhood of these players. We get seven more days to spend together."
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