By Kevin Schmit Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted on November 05, 2000
Trier.
Despite a less-than-perfect effort from the defending Class 6A state champions,
the No. 1 Redhawks rallied for a 22-17 victory over No. 17 New Trier in
Northfield.
Naperville Central (11-0) notched its 25th straight win to set up next week's 6A
quarterfinal showdown against No. 9 Naperville North (10-1) at Memorial
Stadium.
In five prior playoff meetings, Naperville North holds a 3-2 advantage. Thanks
to the Trevians, however, this year's showdown almost didn't get to happen.
New Trier (8-3) scored on a 11-yard pass from Michael Duda (16 of 29, 226
yards) to Patrick Neumayer with 5:03 left in the third quarter to give the
Trevians their first lead at 17-16.
The score stayed that way until just 1:10 remained in the game.
Naperville Central got the ball at its 30-yard line with 3:06 left, and marched 70
yards in 8 plays. Redhawks junior quarterback Phil Horvath (11 of 19, 183
yards) snuck in from a yard out to give the Redhawks a 22-17 lead.
New Trier had over a minute to move the ball, but no timeouts. The Redhawks'
Brett Anderson snared an interception with three seconds remaining to end the
game.
"We knew we had to step up, and we did," Horvath said. "Things were going
pretty bad, but we didn't feel the pressure."
The Redhawks won despite being penalized nine times for 93 yards, including
several crucial calls.
In the second quarter, the Redhawks were about to go for a fourth-and-goal at
the Trevians' 1-yard line, but had to settle for a Kyle Adams field goal after they
were called for off-sides.
On their next possession, a 55-yard touchdown pass to Dan Prazak was
negated for holding.
There were dropped passes, a roughing the kicker call on a punt. A little bit of
everything went wrong for Naperville Central.
"We're happy to get out of here, I'll tell you that," said Naperville Central coach
Joe Bunge. "Things like this always happen in the playoffs, I don't care who you
are."
Naperville Central junior tailback Kyle Griffith (20 carries, 132 yards) scored
on a 79-yard run to give the Redhawks a 7-0 lead midway through the first
quarter.
That was the largest lead for either team, and the lead didn't last long. Duda hit
Bobby Teten (6 catches, 102 yards) with a 58-yard touchdown pass to tie the
game on the Trevians' next possession.
Adams kicked 3 field goals for the second straight week to off-set the
Redhawks' red-zone woes.
"We just didn't execute very well today," said Redhawks defensive lineman Joe
Alvarez. "Their offense did a nice job, but we just made little mistakes on big
plays."