Naperville North (2-2, 0-0 DuPage Valley) @ Lake Park (3-1, 0-0 DuPage Valley), 7:30PM Friday, Sept 26.
Last week: Naperville North lost to Glenbard North, 20-19; Lake Park lost to Wheaton North, 17-10
Storyline: On the surface, Naperville North took some forward steps despite losing at the wire to Glenbard North a week ago.
No doubt taking one on the chin as the Panthers used a pair of halfback TD passes to help erase a 13-point halftime deficit, including taking their first lead on one such pass with 1:11 left in regulation, the Huskies’ defense looked much better than it did against Phillips.
In a 40-7 upset on Sept. 13, Phillips gashed Naperville North for 353 yards on the ground and 428 total yards. But returning to playing familiar competition in Glenbard North, it allowed just 50 total yards in the first half while forcing two turnovers and blocking a punt.
But Glenbard North running back Devion Hodges broke loose from the Huskies’ shackles in the second half for several long runs in the midst of running for 147 yards and a TD while also finding Jace James for a TD on a halfback pass.
The Huskies built a 13-0 halftime lead but as the Panthers’ defense stiffened up in the second half, they couldn’t find the rhythm displayed in the first half.
Naperville North senior quarterback Chris Gajcak threw a 25-yard TD pass to D’Angelo Hyshaw while running for another in the second half to go along with a pair of Milan Dosen field goals.
The Huskies’ failures to get touchdowns as opposed to field goals against the Panthers last week is something they’ll hope to improve on going forward.
Off to a 3-1 start, Lake Park suffered its first loss of the season in a nonconference game against Wheaton North, one of two meetings with the Falcons as the two programs will conclude the regular season against one another.
Antonio Shenault, who has scholarship offers from the likes of Minnesota, Iowa State and Northern Illinois, accounted for the Lancers’ only touchdown in the Lancers’ 17-10 loss to the Falcons. a 29-yard TD reception from Michael Perry.
Lake Park’s defense has allowed just 23 points combined in its four games, which has included a 17-0 shutout of Conant and a Week 3 forfeit win over Raby.
Naperville North coach Sean Drendel on Lake Park: “Obviously, they’re 3-1 for a reason. They lost a heartbreaker last weekend like us. It’s their Homecoming. I know they’ll be ready to play to try to get to 4-1, so we got to match their energies that they’ll have based on their Homecoming. We got to come out firing. For once, we got to finish the game. … It’s going to be a tough test for us, but I think it’s one that the kids are up to the challenge and they’re starting to realize we’re close, but we got to find a way to get over that top.
“They’re super athletic (defensively). They’re big up front and they kind of hang their hat on their defense and get after people. It’s a big test for us. We got to be ready to play.
“I don’t think (they look different on film from 2013 and their first year in DVC), I think they’re very similar to last year. They’re probably a little bit better offensively than they were last year. They were tough defensively last year and they’re the same way this year.”
