What will it take for Naperville Central to avenge last season’s heartbreaking last-second loss to its cross-town rival?
The answer may be blatantly simple: Keep pounding the Huskies defense with a steady dose of running back Ryan Clifford, just as the Redhawks have been doing to opponents all season.
Clifford, the Tribune’s Athlete of the Month for September, has been a one-man wrecking crew this fall. The 5-foot-11-inch, 180-pound senior opened the season with a 231-yard, four-touchdown performance against Lockport and hasn’t slowed down since. His school-record six-touchdown game against Glenbard North last week raised Clifford’s season totals to 30 touchdowns and 1,384 yards. Clifford also has a gaudy 11.4 yards-per-carry average.
So what do you think the Redhawks need to do?
“We have to establish the run early,” tackle Dave Hilderbrand says succinctly. “We have so many different angles that we can run Clifford. We’ve had time to perfect our (blocking) schemes all week.”
Add to the mix the steady passing combination of quarterback Owen Daniels (48 for 80, 736 yards, five TDs) and receiver Kevin Noel (14 receptions, 288 yards) and it’s no wonder the Redhawks have averaged more than 400 yards a game.
“They have a lot of talent,” says North coach Larry McKeon. “Their offense is difficult to stop. They have a huge offensive line, and Daniels can throw the ball to weapons like Noel. Every phase of their game is strong.”
Expect Central to attack a Huskies defense that has been exploited at times. Wheaton North threw for almost 300 yards against North on Sept. 17, and last week the Huskies watched a 21-12 lead after three quarters evaporate in the fourth period before they pulled out a one-point overtime win against Wheaton Warrenville South.
Defensively, the Redhawks have not faced such a dangerous and unpredictable offense as North’s since a Sept. 17 win over Wheaton Warrenville South, and even then the Tigers were playing without standout wide receiver Jerome Collins. Holding their ground against North’s three-pronged rushing attack of Kevin Hahn, Matt Plotke and Shea Friend could turn this expected showdown into a Central rout.
“We have to stop their misdirection,” Clifford says. “It gets confusing out there the way they run all those guys at you. We have to stay disciplined in our assignments.”
