Redhawks get jump on Blackhawks
DAILY HERALD SUBURBAN GAME OF THE WEEK NO. 17 NAPERVILLE CENTRAL 35, WEST AURORA 14
One side will have dreams and the other nightmares, but they’ll focus on the same thing. Fourth- and- short. It proved critical in Naperville Central’s 35- 14 victory Friday against visiting West Aurora in the opening round of the Class 8A playoffs.
The Redhawks stopped West Aurora nine times on fourth down, none more important than a fourth- and- two at Naperville Central’s 16 early in the fourth quarter.
A West Aurora touchdown would’ve made it a one- score game. Instead, the Redhawks ( 8- 2) held and marched 84 yards on five runs by A. J. Deinhart. His nineyard touchdown increased the Redhawks’ lead to 35- 14.
“We pride ourselves on getting stops on big downs,” Redhawks defensive lineman Lavar Archibald said. “We feel if we get the offense back on the field, we’ve got athletes across the board. If we get the ball in their hands, they’re going to do good things.”
The Redhawks jumped out to a 28- 0 lead in the second quarter, scoring on their first four possessions while taking advantage of a fumble and a fourth- down stop at West Aurora’s 38- yard line. The Blackhawks ( 7- 3) looked like they might get blown out, but they cut the deficit to 28- 7 by halftime and scored on the opening possession of the third quarter to make it 2814.
Naperville Central ran only three plays in the third quarter on a drive that ended in a fumble. The Blackhawks drove into the red zone before being held on the critical fourth- down play.
“We just got off to a slow start,” Blackhawks running back Camron Donatlan said.
With two receivers out with injuries, the Redhawks leaned on Deinhart, who rushed for 158 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. Payton Thorne threw a touchdown pass to Cade McDonald and two more to Jayden Reed. The second to Reed, a 76- yarder, accounted for Naperville Central’s lone first down of the second quarter.
“The frustrating part for us was the turnovers and the three- andouts,” Redhawks offensive lineman Luke Hallstrom said. “As an offense, I think we’re better than that. We had to bounce back a little bit. After watching our defense get a couple of stops, it motivated us.”
Donatlan rushed for 81 yards and scored on an 11- yard run late in the second quarter to stem the Redhawks’ momentum.
The Blackhawks opened the third quarter with a 12- play drive — including two fourth- down conversions — capped by William Tammaru’s 10- yard touchdown pass to JaQuan Buchanan on fourth- and- three.
“I’m proud of the kids,” Blackhawks coach Nate Eimer said. “It’s a tough way to start against a good football team like that. These kids hung in there.”
West Aurora ran 77 plays to only 45 by Naperville Central, and the Redhawks had 85 penalty yards compared to 15 byWest Aurora. Turnovers were even at two apiece, and Naperville Central had a slim 329- 301 yardage advantage.
Naperville Central advances to play at No. 4 Homewood- Flossmoor ( 9- 1), likely another Friday night game.
“Give them credit; they made it difficult for us,” Redhawks coach Mike Stine said. “Overall, the goal is to survive and move on, and we were able to do that.”