Naperville Central 41, Stevenson 0
Clifford has 5 TDs in big win.
By Chip Scoggins
Tribune Staff Writer
September 4, 1999
At this rate, Ryan Clifford may own every Naperville
Central rushing record by the end of the year.
Clifford picked up where he left off in the season opener
to lead No. 2 Naperville Central to a 41-0 non-conference
road victory against No. 19 Stevenson on Friday.
Clifford amassed 247 total yards and five touchdowns as the
Redhawks (2-0) dealt the final blow in a long and difficult
week for Stevenson (0-2).
Clifford rushed for 157 yards and four touchdowns on 14
carries. He had five catches for 90 yards and one
touchdown.
He has now rushed for 388 yards and eight touchdowns in the
first two weeks. He had 231 yards rushing and four
touchdowns against Lockport in the season opener.
His 28-yard TD run early in the first quarter gave the
Redhawks a 6-0 lead and set the tone for a dominating
offensive performance.
Central scored TDs on its first three possessions and
rolled up 256 total yards to take a 20-0 halftime lead.
Clifford added a spectacular 48-yard touchdown catch at the
end of the first half.
Stevenson looked just the opposite. The Patriots never got
in sync, which probably had a lot to do with a controversy
that engulfed the team this week. Four starters were
suspended and 20 others disciplined for their roles in a
hazing incident involving sophomores. Charges were brought
against the four on Friday.
"We got beat by a good team so I'm not going to use that as
an excuse," Stevenson coach Bill Mitz said. "But it's been
a tough week."
The Patriots were also without star running back John
Dervishian, who missed his second straight game because of
a knee injury.
Copyright 2000 The Chicago Tribune
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