It's a team game 

Naperville Central's football team was more than 
just Ryan Clifford — just look at the rest of the 
stats. 

By Scott Merkin 
ChicagoSports.com 

November 27, 1999 

CHAMPAIGN - Contrary to public belief, Naperville Central's 
Class 6A championship Saturday was more than the Ryan 
Clifford show. Sure, the senior phenom rushed for 249 yards, scored four 
more touchdowns and finished with 401 total yards. But 
that's all in a day's work for the All-State tailback, who 
finished with a state-record 51 touchdowns this season. 

The Redhawks cruised to the 56-31 victory because Clifford 
was the main source of power but far from the only one. 
"We have a great offense," said Naperville Central coach 
Joe Bunge, whose team won the program's first state title. 
"We could have thrown more, but the run was always there. 
This unit can pretty much do anything." 

If you don't believe Bunge, look at the numbers. 
Junior quarterback Owen Daniels completed 9-of-13 passes 
for 231 yards and two touchdowns, as well as rushing for 
two scores. He finished the season with 16 touchdown passes 
and just one interception. 

"Ryan is a great back, but we have a great offensive line 
and a great fullback," Daniels said. "We just have a great 
team. It was our goal to win state all year, and we weren't 
about to waste this opportunity. It was a lot of fun." 

If Daniels wasn't quite enough, fullback John Mulholland 
added 73 yards rushing and a 21-yard touchdown. The senior 
has gained more than 500 yards this season but has been 
thoroughly overlooked playing in the same backfield as 
Clifford. "That's fine by me," Mulholland said. "Ryan's a great back 
because he goes 100 percent every play. It just spreads 
throughout the team, and we rally around each other. 

Everybody does the little things, which add up to the big 
things and that's why we are state champions." 
The Redhawks have dubbed their offense "The Big Red 
Machine," and before every play, they remind themselves in 
the huddle of that nickname. 

Schaumburg needed no reminder on Saturday and probably won't forget for a long time to 
come. "It was a long night for their defense," Bunge said. 
If the Redhawks are a machine, then Clifford would be the 
inventor. But without the other little pieces, the machine 
might still sell but wouldn't be nearly as valuable. 
"You can't stop us once we start going," said tight end Pat 
Hinsberger, who caught Daniels' first touchdown pass 
Saturday. "We know those 51 touchdowns have come a lot from 
us, especially the big offensive line. 
"But we are all good friends, almost like brothers. I guess 
this is it — our last game, but I really don't want it to 
end." 

Copyright 2000 ChicagoSports.com 

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