By Brad Engel
STAFF WRITER

  On the outside it looked like a perfectly wrapped present.

   The box — a secure, durable 49-20 victory against Glenbard North for sole possession of first place in the DuPage Valley Conference.

   The wrapping paper — stoked students sporting body paint, players pumping helmets in the air and parents hooting and hollering as the band provided a dramatic undertone for the straggling victorious viewers.

   The bow — Central's public-address announcer reporting Naperville North's 27-14 loss to Wheaton Warrenville South.

   But that present's contents resembled a gag gift.

   On the inside, the Redhawks hurt.

   With most fans departed from Memorial Stadium on Friday in Naperville, senior running back Kyle Griffith trudged along in the dark parking lot with a set of crutches, aiding what he diagnosed early as a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

   "It's really hard," said Griffith, who rushed for 809 regular-season yards last year and has recorded 612 so far this season. "I mean, one minute you're running as fast as you can and the next minute you're on the ground with a torn ACL or whatever it is. Maybe I'll be ready for the playoffs. We'll see what happens."

   Last year, Central quarterback Owen Daniels, now at the University of Wisconsin, suffered an ACL injury and never returned to the lineup. The following week, Griffith exited with 1:33 left in the first half, 100 yards rushing and a concussion. Friday, Griffith exited with 1:14 left in the half, 81 yards rushing and a possible ACL tear. Griffith rebounded from the concussion, but an ACL tear could keep Griffith from playing another down this season.

   "I told him, 'Stick in there,'" said senior quarterback and friend Phil Horvath. "'Don't worry about it. 'We're going to play as hard as we can for you.' I told him we're going to say our prayers for him. Hopefully it's not as bad as we think."

   With Jason Paquette sitting out against Glenbard because of grades, Central (6-0 overall, 4-0 DVC) face the possibility of entering next week's game against Naperville North (4-2, 2-2) with an inexperienced backfield. Backup tailback Joel Barenbrugge and backup fullback Matt Nardi gained needed minutes against Glenbard, which never got in the game Friday.

   Central quickly took a 7-0 lead on the first possession of the game. Horvath threw complete to senior wide receiver Nick O'Conner for a gain of 36. Then a Griffith run and Tyke Spencer catch set up Horvath's 1-yard touchdown run 1:22 into the game. Senior defensive back Brad Matthews ended the Panthers' first drive with an interception, setting up Central's second touchdown, a 2-yard run by Griffith.

   "The first half, we've been playing well all year," said senior linebacker Ryan Senica, who forced a fumble in the fourth quarter. "The first half's been our strong point."

   Central finished the first quarter with a second consecutive interception, this time by senior linebacker Mike Lucas. The Redhawks managed one play before the quarter ended, then started the second quarter with Horvath's 52-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Dan Passarelli on the first play for a 21-0 lead.

   Senior place-kicker Chris Szatko then kicked off to Glenbard junior Anthony Beljung, who fumbled the ball and lost it to Central senior A.J. Sagen on the Panthers 28-yard line. Seven plays later, Griffith carried the ball 1 yard for a 28-0 lead with 8:26 left in the half.

   After a breakdown in the secondary allowed Glenbard to execute a 34-yard touchdown pass, Central senior Dave Atkinson responded two possessions later with the Redhawks' third interception of the half. Two plays later, Horvath connected with a leaping Spencer in the end zone for a 35-8 lead. Horvath started the game 7-of-7 and finished the half 8-of-11 for 195 yards passing.

   "He's throwing the ball great," Spencer said. "He's done a great job. We know if we get open he's going to put it there, and all we have to do is haul it in and run."

   Central added its fourth interception of the night when senior defensive back Josh Rubin dove in front of Frank Pope's pass to wide receiver Chuck Earnest on Glenbard's second play from scrimmage in the second half. Central again converted the turnover into a score when Nardi got in on the fun with a 17-yard touchdown reception for a 42-8 lead.

   Matthews said Central coach Joe Bunge — a former defensive back — has taught the defensive backs several techniques and lineups. Bunge has spent more time personally with the defensive backs this year.

   "He changed it up a lot going (from a zone defense) to man-to-man," Matthews said. "I think the man-to-man helps us a lot. We have a lot of fast, quick DBs in the backfield. We blitz a lot more with the linebackers, giving more pressure so we can get the quarterback to hurry up."

   Glenbard North (4-2, 2-2), Naperville North, Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South all share the same record, but Naperville North faces the most difficult task to keep pace. The Huskies play the Redhawks at 7:30 p.m. Friday at North Central College in Naperville.

   "We're fired up, and obviously we got North next week, which is a huge game," Spencer said. "It's tough losing Griffith. He's a great leader of this team, great player. He's a friend of all of ours. (Barenbrugge) will do a good job stepping up, and our line will keep making holes. We'll do what we need to do."

Individual statistics

RUSHING: Naperville Central -- Griffith 13-81, Barenbrugge 12-38, Nardi 4-10, Schueler 1-4, Horvath 4-(-5). Glenbard North -- Malizzio 18-78, Kosnik 2-15, Beljung 4-7, Pope 4-6, Koenen 3-0.

PASSING: Naperville Central -- Horvath 10-14-0 217. Glenbard North -- Pope 17-36-4 172.

RECEIVING: Naperville Central -- Spencer 5-83, Passarelli 3-81, O'Conner 1-36, Nardi 1-17. Glenbard North -- Pelland 4-55, Klos 3-47, Earnest 6-47, Evans 2-16, Berdis 1-4, Kosnik 1-3.

Sophomore score: Naperville Central 43, Glenbard North 22.

Quarter by Quarter 1st quarter Naperville opened the game with a wide-open pass to senior wide receiver Nick O'Connor for 36 yards, setting up Phil Horvath's 1-yard touchdown run. Central scored on its second possession after marching 86 yards. Naperville Central leads 14-0. 2nd quarter Naperville's second interception of the game set up the Redhawks' third consecutive score when Horvath threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Dan Passarelli on the first play of the quarter. Glenbard throws for a score on its third possession. Naperville Central leads 35-8. 3rd quarter Central's Josh Rubin records the team's fourth interception, which the Redhawks turn into a scoring drive. Naperville loses a fumble that Glenbard turns into a score before Glenbard scores its final touchdown. Naperville Central leads 42-20. 4th quarter Central's defense turns it up one more notch with less than six minutes to play when Ryan Senica forces a fumble and Andy Crowder returns it 3 yards for the score. Naperville Central wins 49-20.

By The Numbers:  Naperville Central recorded its most interceptions in one game this year thanks to first-half interceptions by Brad Matthews, Mike Lucas and Dave Atkinson and a second-half pick by Josh Rubin.number:70 Glenbard defensive end Dave Campione, No. 70, broke through Central's line on back-to-back sacks for losses of 11 total yards against quarterback Phil Horvath on the first two plays following the Panthers' first score.number:7-7 Central quarterback Phil Horvath started the game 7-of-7 for 172 yards with passes of 36, 25, 12, 22, 52, 7 and 18 yards. Horvath finished with 217 yards passing.number:51 Central junior linebacker Brady Hester, No. 51, forced one of Glenbard's four fumbles when he sacked quarterback Frank Pope midway through the second quarter. Glenbard recovered the ball.