North advances to second round after late rally against Fremd

Naperville North defeated Fremd 38-31 in a Class 8A first-round football playoff game at Harshbarger-Welzel Stadium in Naperville on Friday night. The victory marks the Huskies' first playoff win since 2010. They advance to play fourth-seeded Oswego in the second round.

Junior running back Jayke Collins played a key role in the win after returning from a broken collarbone sustained in Week 5. Collins rushed for 135 yards and scored two touchdowns. He ran for touchdowns on an eight-yard carry and a 70-yard strike to start the second half. Collins said he felt he was back and better than ever after the injury.

The game remained competitive until the final minutes. Naperville North took the lead for good at 35-31 with 8:21 remaining. Charlie Neumann ran for a 21-yard touchdown, and kicker Miles Nio made a 33-yard field goal with 3:29 left on the clock. Coach Sean Drendel praised Nio for making a huge field goal in the closing seconds.

Fremd had held leads earlier in the game. Kale Peterson returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown to give the Vikings a 10-7 lead after the first quarter. Fremd led 17-14 at halftime. The teams traded scoring possessions in the second half. Fremd quarterback Will Clark threw for 184 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 100 yards and two scores.

The final drive of the game came down to execution. Fremd reached the Naperville North nine-yard line with 53 seconds left. The Vikings failed to find an open receiver in the end zone. Naperville North linebacker John Lyons and defensive back CJ Geist defended the play to stop the drive. Fremd coach Lou Sponsel noted that his team was attempting a two-point conversion.

Naperville North finished with an 8-2 record. Jack Zito caught eight passes for 72 yards for the Huskies. Fremd finished with a 7-4 record. The Huskies now prepare for their next match against Oswego, who holds a 9-1 record.

Collins credited the team's bye week for helping his recovery. He said the team showed up ready to play. Drendel stated that the program has improved each year since the pandemic and aims to continue breaking through barriers.