It looked great on the scoreboard, but horrible on the sideline.

As host Naperville Central buried Glenbard North in the midst of a 49-20 victory Friday night, Redhawks senior tailback Kyle Griffith hobbled on the sideline on crutches for the entire second half.

Griffith, a two-year starter, injured his knee late in the first half. Preliminary examinations suggest he may have torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

That would likely put the Redhawks' leading rusher out for the rest of the season, although Griffith is still hopeful.

"Who knows, maybe I can come back for the playoffs," Griffith said. "It's just really hard. One minute you're running as fast as you can, the next minute you can't get up.

"It wasn't even on the contact, it was on the cut. I heard it pop, and I knew something was wrong."

Griffith's injury brought a somber tone to what should have been a celebration. The Redhawks (6-0, 4-0) opened up a 28-0 lead on Glenbard North (4-2, 2-2) by scoring touchdowns on their first four possessions.

They'll take an unbeaten record into next week's showdown against Naperville North (4-2, 2-2).

"Griff's a great back, a great person," said Redhawks senior receiver Tyke Spencer, who had 5 catches for 84 yards and a 23-yard touchdown from quarterback Phil Horvath (10 of 14, 219 yards, 3 touchdowns).

"Everybody's just got to step up."

For Friday's game, the passing game carried the offense. Horvath completed his first 7 passes, including a 52-yard touchdown to Dan Passarelli on the second play of the second quarter to give the Redhawks a 21-0 lead.

Griffith's (14 carries, 89 yards) second touchdown run, a 2-yarder, made it 28-0 before Glenbard North quarterback Frank Pope (17 of 34, 172 yards, 4 interceptions) threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Greg Klos (3 catches, 47 yards).

Pope threw second-half touchdowns to Klos and Chuck Earnest (6 catches, 49 yards) to move the offense. Mike Mallizio (18 carries, 75 yards) led the ground game.

But it still wasn't enough to keep up with Naperville Central.

Horvath, who scored the game's first touchdown on a 1-yard dive, threw touchdowns to Spencer and Matt Nardi before Pope threw his final 2 touchdown passes that narrowed the gap to 42-20.

The final score came on Andy Crowder's 3-yard fumble return. Ryan Senica set up the play by sacking backup quarterback Eric Koenen and forcing the ball loose.

The Redhawks forced 6 turnovers, including interceptions by Brad Matthews, Mike Lucas, Dave Atkinson and Josh Rubin.

Naperville Central backup tailback Joel Barenbrugge, a junior, gained 37 yards on 12 carries.

"I'm not sure what we're going to do yet," said Redhawks coach Joe Bunge of Griffith's injury. "To lose someone like that hurts a lot."