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Naperville C. denies W. Aurora again

Searching for its first football win over Naperville Central since 1979, West Aurora pulled out all the tricks in the DuPage Valley Conference game Friday night.

But the Blackhawks’ onside kick to start the game fooled no one, and the Redhawks wore down the valiant West Aurora defense for a 35-20 victory in Aurora.

Underscoring the attritional nature of the game and the importance of field position, Naperville Central (3-1 overall, 2-0 in the conference) used contributions from all three phases to capture its 15 straight conference triumph over the Blackhawks (2-2, 0-2).

But the latest Naperville Central win over West Aurora featured several leading members.

Matt Randolph scored twice and had his second straight big offensive night with 188 yards rushing on 35 carries — three fewer plays from scrimmage than West Aurora had as a team.

Pat Clark gave Naperville Central a lead never to be relinquished when he scooped up a fumble and scored from 2 yards out two plays after the Blackhawks had denied the Redhawks on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line.

“I saw the quarterback try and tuck it in,” Clark said of the Blackhawks’ muffed exchange. “We’re taught to scoop and score.”

The play was emblematic of much of the first half as Naperville Central repeatedly kept the Blackhawks deep in their own territory.

“We couldn’t flip the field position,” West Aurora coach Nate Eimer said.

Randolph doubled the Redhawks’ lead early in the second quarter with a short run, but the Blackhawks managed their opening first down on the ensuing play from scrimmage.

Sophomore Quintez Jones connected with Cole Childs on a 69-yard strike down the Redhawks’ right side.

“It’s a play we have been practicing,” Jones said. “All I had to do was put the ball in the window, and Cole could the rest for me.”

Zach Borta would have the first of his two blocked extra-point attempts for Naperville Central, however, and Clayton Scott would be the other offensive star for the Redhawks.

Given new life on a defensive pass interference call in the waning seconds of the first half, Scott hauled in the first of back-to-back scoring receptions from Naperville Central quarterback Ian Lewandowski.

Naperville Central led 21-6 at the break on the Scott score from 16 yards out in the last 11 seconds.

Scott was also instrumental to the Redhawks’ game-clinching touchdown in the third quarter when he helped negotiate a second-and-30 scenario with a 28-yard collaboration from Lewandowski.

Randolph broke free on his last carry of the night to nullify Spencer Thomas’ 13-yard touchdown reception from Richie Renner.

“You have to give West Aurora’s defense credit,” Naperville Central coach Mike Stine said. “Their defense plays hard, they’re physical and they have athletes.”

Preston Felker scored the final Blackhawks’ final touchdown on a 26-yard fumble recovery.