The Naperville Central quarterback completed his first seven passes Friday night for 170 yards while leading the Redhawks to a 49-20 victory over Glenbard North in Naperville.

But Naperville Central wasn't in any mood to celebrate after receiving the sobering news that star running back Kyle Griffith could be out for the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Griffith rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns in 13 carries before going down late in the second quarter. He will undergo a MRI exam Saturday.

"I was making a cut and the knee just gave out," Griffith said. "I heard it snap, and I knew it was something bad. The trainer and team doctor both think it's a torn ACL. There's a chance I might be able to come back later in the playoffs."

Horvath opened up with a 36-yard pass play to Nick O'Conner, and never stopped slinging. A 25-yard connection with Tyke Spencer set up the Redhawks quarterback's 1-yard touchdown run.

After Brad Matthews picked off a pass from Glenbard North quarterback Frank Pope at the Redhawks' 14, No. 2 Naperville Central (6-0, 4-0) marched 86 yards with Griffith scoring on a 2-yard run.

The Redhawks scored on their first four possessions. Two plays after Mike Lucas intercepted another Pope pass, Horvath hit Dan Passarelli on a 52-yard touchdown pass play to make it 21-0.

Glenbard's fumble on the ensuing kickoff was recovered by A.J. Sagen at the Panthers 28. Horvath's 18-yard hookup with Spencer set up Griffith's 2-yard TD run.

No. 16 Glenbard North (4-2, 2-2), which was playing without coach Dale Evans, broke up the shutout with 4 minutes 11 seconds left in the second quarter on Pope's 34-yard scoring pass to Greg Klos. Evans was sitting out a one-game suspension after being ejected from a junior-varsity game last week.

The Redhawks' Dave Atkinson made interception No. 3 just before halftime. Horvath connected with Spencer on a 23-yard fade pattern for another score, giving Naperville Central a 35-8 lead at halftime.

"It's tough losing Kyle," Spencer said. "He was a great runner and a team leader. Joel Barenbrugge will do a good job replacing him."

Naperville Central now may have to become more of a passing team.

"We'll have to change up a little bit with Kyle out," said Horvath, who wound up completing 10-of-13 passes for 216 yards and three TDs.