Central narrowly avoids big upset 

By Dan Wiederer 
October 8, 2000

STAFF WRITER
When the night began, Naperville Central's defense was trying to keep its six-game shutout streak intact. 
By the time Friday night's football game with Glenbard North reached a climax, the Redhawks had to use everything in their arsenal to thwart a last-minute, 2-point conversion attempt by the Panthers just to keep their two-year winning streak alive.

Leading by a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, Central surrendered the last of four Glenbard North touchdowns with 47 seconds remaining when running back Brian Mitchell scored from 7 yards out. That made the score 31-30 in favor of the Redhawks and set up a 2-point conversion attempt to decide the game.

Glenbard North, which had been successful on each of its three previous conversion attempts, called a pass play.

Quarterback Dom Demma faked a handoff and rolled right. But the Redhawks secondary and corps of linebackers had each of Demma's passing options covered. That forced Demma into a desperation heave to the back of the end zone. Avoiding a sack, he threw a high-arching pass that ricocheted off the goal post and fell incomplete, leaving Central with a 31-30 win.

"It's all relative — 7-6, 3-2, 31-30. I don't care as long as we win," Central coach Joe Bunge told his players afterward.

"They've got great kids," said Central assistant J.R. Rexilius, paying a compliment to Glenbard North. "We watched them on film, and they were great on film. They're playing great."

The Redhawks' shutout streak ended just short of 291 minutes — Schaumburg was the last opponent to score on Central, tallying a touchdown with 56 seconds to play in the 1999 state championship game — when Glenbard North scored less than two minutes into the game. On their opening possession, the Panthers marched 60 yards on four plays, reaching the end zone on a 30-yard run by Mitchell.

Playing from behind for the first time this season, the Redhawks offense answered, scoring on an eight-play, 55-yard drive capped by Kyle Griffith's 1-yard run.

Central later scored on a 3-yard touchdown run by fullback Matt Yellin in the second quarter and added a Kyle Adams extra point to take a 13-8 lead into halftime.

But any momentum the Redhawks secured was lost when Kevin Noel fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half and Glenbard North recovered at the Central 6.

The Panthers needed just three plays to score as Mitchell punched it in from 1 yard out. Mike Giampa added a catch on the 2-point conversion to put Glenbard North ahead 16-13.

An Adams 27-yard field goal with 1:46 to play in the third knotted the score at 16-16 heading into the final period.

Central's defense, which limited the Panthers to two first downs total in the second and third quarters, appeared to be back in shutdown mode.

But Glenbard North's offense wasn't done.

After Griffith's 11-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Phil Horvath made it 23-16 Central with 10:14 to play, the Panthers mounted a nine-play, 55-yard drive. Giampa's 24-yard touchdown reception on a pretty out-and-up route followed by a Mitchell conversion run gave North a 24-23 lead with 6:08 left.

After both teams went three-and-out on their next possessions, Central took over at its own 45 with 3:13 left to tally the winning score. The Redhawks' game-winning drive started with a Glenbard North pass-interference penalty on a throw intended for Dan Prazak. Noel followed with his only catch of the night, a fingertip grab along the left sideline that gave the Redhawks a first down at the Panthers 24. After three consecutive Griffith runs netted 19 yards, Yellin marched in with the pivotal touchdown from 5 yards out.

"That felt great," Yellin said. "To come back like we did was great. We were down a lot of the game, and we're not used to that. We held our composure, and we knew we could get a score."

Just when it seemed Central had its 21st consecutive win and the postseason-berth-clinching seventh victory of the season in the bag, the Panthers answered again. Demma completed three of four passes for 38 yards, and Mitchell carried twice for 18, including his 7-yard score, in the final minute.

That set up the drama.

With the game on the line, Central's defense came up big.

"This was a great game for our kids," Rexilius said. "To come back like that was great, and then to hold them on the 2-point conversion. Give Glenbard North credit. They played a great game." The Redhawks (7-0, 5-0) face cross-town rival Naperville North on Friday with the DuPage Valley Conference championship on the line. And while Central's win over Glenbard North wasn't as easy as expected, it might have been just what the Redhawks needed at this stage of the season.

"It was good to have a really close game like we had, especially with Naperville North next week," Yellin said. "They're a tough team, and going into the playoffs we don't want to be relaxing. This was good for our team."

Contact Dan Wiederer at (630) 416-5289 or dan.wiederer@copleypress.com.ag

NAPERVILLE CENTRAL 31, GLENBARD NORTH 30 Nap.Central 6 7 3 15 - 31 Glenbard North 8 0 8 14 - 30 GN - Brian Mitchell, 30-yard run (Rocco Gapastione run). NC - Kyle Griffith, 1-yard run (pass
failed). NC - Matt Yellin 3-yard run (Kyle Adams kick). GN - Mitchell, 1-yard run (Mike Giampa pass from Dom Demma). NC - Adams, 27-yard field goal. NC - Griffith, 11-yard pass from Phil Horvath (Adams kick). GN - Giampa, 24-yard pass from Demma (Mitchell run). NC - Yellin, 5-yard
run (Kevin Noel catch). GN - Mitchell, 7-yard run (pass failed).

Team statistics NC GN First downs 20 11 Comp-att-int 10-16-3 7-14-0 Yards passing 78 94 Rushes-yards 50-244 36-124 Total yards 322 218 Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1 Penalties-yards 5-40 3-20 Individual statistics 

RUSHING: Naperville Central — Griffith 29-177, Yellin 14-50, Horvath 7-17. Glenbard North — Mitchell 27-144, Erik Markovic 2-2, Gapastione 2-1, Demma 5-(-23). 

PASSING: Naperville Central — Horvath 10-16-3 78. Glenbard North — Demma 7-14-0 94.

RECEIVING: Naperville Central -- Adams 2-24, Noel 1-16, Griffith 2-13, Yellin 2-9, Dan Prazek 1-6, Chris Lee 1-5, Tyke Spencer 1-5. Glenbard North — Markovic 3-42, Chuck Earnest 3-28, Giampa 1-24. Sophomores: Naperville Central 16, Glenbard North 6  


10/08/00