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Benet tops St. Charles North

Benet's football program advanced to the Class 7A semifinals in 2012.

It may not seem like that long ago but it's felt like a lifetime for the Redwings.

After suffering first-round playoff losses the last two years, Benet made it back to the second round with Saturday's 21-14 victory over St. Charles North during constant rain at Benedictine University in Lisle.

The No. 12 Redwings (8-2) will hit the road next week to take on No. 5 Cary-Grove (9-1) with a Class 7A quarterfinal berth at stake.

"This is huge," said Benet running back-defensive back Alec McEachern. "Coach (Pat) New just emphasized all offseason no more one-and-done. We went from 2012 in the semis and then two first rounds. It's been tough."

Benet took a 21-7 lead early in the fourth quarter on McEachern's 1-yard scoring run. The Redwings leaned heavily on the ground game in the wet conditions, and McEachern responded with 195 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 37 carries as the team rushed for 254 of its 285 total yards.

Two of Danny O'Malley's 3 interceptions in the game came in the fourth quarter for Benet, but the No. 21 North Stars (7-3) still kept coming at Benet. Starting a drive on the Redwings' 23 after a short punt, Zach Mettetal threw a 17-yard pass to Kyle Novotney and Eric Lins, who rushed for 57 yards, burst in from 6 yards out to narrow the gap to 21-14.

O'Malley's third pick set up Benet at its own 27, but the Redwings couldn't convert when they went for it in the final minute on fourth-and-1 at the 36. Mettetal completed a pass down to Benet's 25-yard line, but an incompletion and a sack ended the game.

"I give our kids a ton of credit," said St. Charles North coach Rob Pomazak. "They fought. They left everything out here. It was a great season for us, nothing to hang our heads about. I think this game could have went either way."

Benet got off to a great start when O'Malley picked off Mettetal, who completed 12 of 24 passes for 102 yards, on the third play of the game. Four plays later Redwings quarterback Jack Sznajder threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Weidenbach for a 7-0 lead.

A three-and-out gave the ball right back to Benet, and it took only two more plays to take a 14-0 lead on McEachern's 52-yard scoring run.

"We said in the off-season, no more one-and-dones," New said. "To get a win and advance is really exciting. I'm proud of our players and happy for them."

A failed fake punt attempt set up St. Charles North's first touchdown late in the first quarter when Mettetal scored on a 2-yard keeper to make it 14-7. That's where the score stayed until early in the fourth quarter.

"Our 'D' played real well today, we showed up to play," O'Malley said. "A lot of people underestimate Benet, but I think we're going to be one of those teams that'll be competitive in the playoffs."

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Benet's Charlie Weidenbacher carries the football in Saturday's Class 7A playoff victory against St. Charles North Positively Naperville
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