Redhawks revived defense quells Huskies
By Dave Miller Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted on October 14, 2000 

It took only a week for the Naperville Central defense to return to form.

The Redhawks were eager to show Naperville North on Friday night they were
more the team that pitched six shutouts to start the season than the one which
gave up 30 points to Glenbard North last week.

Naperville Central didn't record another shutout, but it contained Naperville
North's double-wing offense led by dangerously quick quarterback Jay
McCareins.

"McCareins broke loose a couple times, but I think we contained him pretty
well and that was our goal," said Redhawks linebacker Pat Spaeth, whose
interception of a tipped pass early in the second quarter led to his team's second
touchdown.

The Redhawks did shutout Naperville North in the first half after making a
defensive stand deep in their terrority in the final minute. The result was a 21-0
Naperville Central halftime lead.

The Redhawks stretched their lead to 28-0 in the third quarter before finally
allowing a Naperville North touchdown. By then, defensively-determined
Naperville Central was well on its way to a 31-14 victory in a battle of DuPage
Valley unbeatens at North Central College.

Perhaps the worst thing that could have happened for Naperville North was
Glenbard North solving Naperville Central's defense for 4 touchdowns the
previous week.

"Last week we got cut down a few notches," said Naperville Central defensive
coordinator John Urban. "We challenged the kids today saying, 'If you're as
good as everybody says you are, this is the game we got to step up the hitting."

Mission accomplished.

"We were flying around the football," said Redhawks linebacker Drew Kocsis.
"We were hitting people. We just played great."

The moment of truth for the defense came late in the second quarter. After the
Redhawks moved ahead 21-0 with 2:22 left in the half, the Huskies drove down
the field for a first-and-goal at the 10. 

But that's as far as the Huskies advanced. On first down, McCareins threw an
incomplete pass pressured by safety Brian Uhlir, then on second down was
sacked at the 25 by Mike Lucas. Bob Siciliano knocked a pass out of the hands
of Mike Roney with a jarring hit near the goal line on third down followed by an
incomplete pass on fourth down with 11.9 seconds left.

"Our defense stepped up," said Redhawks defensive tackle Chris Hill. "That
really changed the momentum of the game."

Beyond Naperville North's pair of harmless touchdowns in the second half, the
only other bad news for Naperville Central was impact linebacker Ryan
Amberson leaving the game for good in the third quarter with a badly-injured
right knee.