Naperville Central cooled off in Cleveland

LAKEWOOD, Ohio - Everything was going to plan. Naperville Central traveled to the Cleveland area to take on St. Edward with a mindset of keeping the game close for two quarters and see what happens.

Coach Mike Stine and the Redhawks had to have been feeling good as they headed to the locker room at halftime tied at 7.

But those good feelings went away quickly during a 19-second span of the third quarter in which St. Edward put up back-to-back touchdowns en route to a 35-14 win.

St. Edward broke the tie on a flea flicker, which resulted in a 13-yard touchdown catch by quarterback Kevin Kramer to take a 14-7 lead with 8:44 left in the third quarter. Just 19 seconds later the Eagles' Kevin Dever returned an interception 23 yards for a score to make it 21-7.

St. Edward picked off the Redhawks four times on the day.

"Our goal was to keep the game as close as we could, try to get into the second half or fourth quarter," Stine said. "We went three-and-out to start the second half, and then they scored and then the pick 6 and then it kind of got out of hand and snowballed."

The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Redhawks (3-3).

St. Edward shut down the Redhawks' running game, limiting Naperville Central to just 70 yards on the ground and just 20 yards in the first half.

A.J. Deinhart, who had rushed for more than 500 yards entering the game, was held to just 52 yards, and his longest run from scrimmage was 12 yards.

Redhawks quarterback Patrick Ryan finished the afternoon 11 for 22 for 117 yards and a touchdown.

"We had some opportunities in the first half and we couldn't just capitalize, but good teams make it hard on you," Stine said.

The Redhawks trailed early 7-0 but tied it up when Ryan connected with Joshua Boomgarden on a 47-yard bomb early in the second quarter.

But the St. Edward defense settled in from that point and stymied the Naperville Central ground attack.

"They made us one dimensional today," Stine said. "In the game of football, you've got to be able to run and throw it and today, we couldn't throw it."

The game was a showdown between two traditional powers. St. Edward is the two-time defending champion in Ohio's big-school division. Naperville Central has 29 playoff appearances and two state title to its credit.

St. Edward quarterback Kevin Kramer ended up running, throwing and catching a touchdown for the Eagles (5-1). Eagles defensive back DeShane Bloodworth finished the game with 3 interceptions.

Stine said the two teams will meet again next year, this time in Naperville.

"The trip has been a great experience. It's been a long two days. We still have the long trip back home, but it's something these guys will remember for a lifetime," Stine said. "Obviously, the bus ride home is going to be a little longer."

Naperville Central doesn't have long to get over the loss. It plays archrival Naperville North on Friday.