Naperville North (0-4, 0-3 DuPage Valley) @ Glenbard North (2-2, 1-2 DuPage Valley), 7:30PM
Last week: Naperville North lost to Lake Park, 7-0; Glenbard North beat Glenbard East, 41-17.
Storyline: Naperville North heads to Carol Stream still looking for its first victory after being handed three single-digit losses so far.
The latest, a 7-0 loss at home to Lake Park, came after the Huskies’ offense managed 170 total yards while making the best of not ideal weather conditions as the game started a hour late and another delay early in the second quarter.
A decision to go for a fake punt in their own end backfired as the Lancers stopped it and eventually found the only score of the game, courtesy of a Jaron Fields’ TD pass to Diamante Smith, late in the first half.
Jaylen Lockhart continues to be a bright spot for Naperville North as he compiled his third 100-yard game as he ran for 124 yards on 21 carries against Lake Park.
On the year, Lockhart has 523 rushing yards to pace all Naperville-area backs and he’s doing his best to help the Huskies’ quarterbacks.
Luke Cegles got a second straight start behind center for Naperville North while Vic Slopecki and Dylan Fadden have also seen time.
Glenbard North, meanwhile, is coming off earning the first non-conference win of the season for a DuPage Valley Conference team after beating Glenbard East, 41-17.
The Panthers have won two straight games and tallied 34 unanswered points against the Rams, including putting up 27 points in the fourth quarter, and got a career-high 270 yards from running back Vittorio Tricase.
Whoever plays QB for the Huskies will need to be cognizant of a Glenbard North defense that forced four Glenbard East turnovers in the fourth quarter – highlighted by two Tyrik Henderson interceptions.
The Huskies haven’t beaten the Panthers since Sept. 26, 2008 when they posted a 27-20 home victory.
Naperville North coach Sean Drendel on Glenbard North: “As a 1-2 punch in the backfield, (Tricase and Hodges) are as good as you get. They’re outstanding, quick, very shifty running backs. I told their head coach (Ryan Wilkens) they’ve done a great job of creating a tailback culture there. They run the ball and if I was a tailback, I’d love to play for them. They do a great job with their system and their O-line loves blocking for their tailback. So they’ve done a great job.
“Their defense is as fast and as physical as you’re going to find. They’re not quite as big as they’ve been in the past, but they’re fast. They run to the football. They make a lot of plays, so they create some tough scenarios for your offense. You got to be super good with the football and not allow any turnovers because if you do, they’re going to turn them into points. You could make the contention that they should be 4-0. Statistically, I think, they were right there in both games.”
