Hodges a hit with big play for Glenbard North
Junior Devion Hodges certainly is continuing the tradition of great running backs at Glenbard North, but he was especially proud of his defense Friday.
Hodges rushed for 249 yards and 2 touchdowns, but it was his hit as a safety that caused a fumble returned 17 yards by teammate Alex Taylor for the winning touchdown in the Panthers' 27-23 DuPage Valley Conference victory over Wheaton North in Carol Stream.
"It definitely felt better because that was the play that changed the game. That made us win," Hodges said. "That was a big play. It was a great ending to a great game."
The Panthers (3-3, 1-1 in DVC) appeared in trouble after Wheaton North (2-4, 1-1) erased a 21-10 halftime deficit to lead 23-21 with 9:04 left after a 3-yard TD run by Doug Michalak. Then the Panthers' ensuing drive reached the Wheaton North 42 before having to punt.
The Falcons faced second-and-10 from their 13 when J.P. Forcucci caught a swing pass and appeared to have been tackled when suddenly Taylor emerged from a swarm of teammates headed for the end zone.
"Devion forced the fumble. I really just saw the ball and did what I was taught by my coaches - scoop, score, touchdown," Taylor said. "It was a good feeling, a really good feeling."
"Devion is a tenacious hitter, but I wasn't even sure who scored until after the game. I was just happy we scored, whoever scored," Glenbard North coach Ryan Wilkens said with a laugh.
"The defense again played a great game. Overall the resiliency, Taylor coming up with that big fumble recovery, that's the way our defense has been playing all year."
Wheaton North nearly struck one more time behind sophomore quarterback Luke Anthony, who passed for 229 yards and 2 TDs to Michael Bloss.
Justin Pitts finally all but sealed the Panthers' victory with an interception at the 26 with 2:59 to play.
It was the Falcons' second loss this season by less than a touchdown.
"We didn't do a very good job in the first half defensively. They ran the ball at will on us," Wheaton North coach Joe Wardynski said. "We did a good job in the second half. Our kids battled. Our defense shut them down. But we've got to play four quarters and we didn't tonight."
Wheaton North led 3-0 and 10-7 early, but the Panthers scored touchdowns on three straight possessions, two by Hodges.
The 5-foot-8, 165-pound Hodges isn't a look-alike for graduated standout Justin Jackson, but he certainly has handled his huge workload well. He had 40 carries with nine of them for double digits Friday, including 30 and 32 yards.
"Our fullback (Dillon Warnecke) was all-conference last year so he's making big hits, opening up holes, and the boys up front are getting the job done, too, allowing me to make cuts," Hodges said.
"Obviously, he's a little slighter than Justin, but he's quick," Wilkens said.
In the third quarter, the Falcons failed to covert fourth-and-1 at the Glenbard North 26. The Panthers then drove to the Falcons' 29 but penalties and a high shotgun snap put them all the way back to their 34. A 6-yard punt into the wind then gave Wheaton North the ball at the 40 and they eventually closed to 21-17 after a 6-yard TD pass from Anthony to Bloss.
Michalak's TD came three plays after a phenomenal 34-yard, one-armed, diving catch by Forcucci at the 13.
Michalak's cousin, Glenbard North starting senior defensive lineman Matt Michalak earned the bragging rights in their second high school football game against each other. They also have faced each other in baseball.
"We wait for this game all year," Matt Michalak said. "It's a lot easier going into this week with a win than a loss. If we got a loss, we would have had to win out to make the playoffs."