At the end, it's Naperville Central
Naperville Central's football team prides itself in playing hard for 48 minutes.
The Redhawks had no choice against Neuqua Valley Friday night.
Iowa-bound receiver and defensive back Emmanuel Rugamba batted down a pass in the end zone as time expired to preserve Naperville Central's 14-7 DuPage Valley Conference victory over the visiting Wildcats.
The game remained tied 7-7 for almost the entire second half until the Redhawks (2-0, 2-0) took over at midfield following a punt with 2:57 left in the fourth quarter. Six plays later - including 10 and 12-yard Conor Joyce passes to Jack Piper and Rugamba - Luke Brady dashed for a 12-yard touchdown run to give Naperville Central its first lead of 14-7 with 51 seconds left.
Then, like the 47 minutes before that play, it all came down to the Redhawks' defense.
"We gave up 12 points last week and 7 points tonight so I think we've done a really good job on defense," said Redhawks defensive lineman Joe Gannon. "It's been a total team effort. We've worked really hard these last two weeks."
Neuqua Valley (1-1, 1-1) took over at its own 32 with 43 seconds left. Quarterback Jack Stankoven moved the Wildcats down the field with five completed passes, but Rugamba prevented a sixth.
"It was hard to get anything going," said Wildcats coach Bill Ellinghaus. "They do a great job defensively. They kept coming at us. We'd get a little something going and they'd buckle down when we'd get near the red zone."
Defense ruled for most of the game, but Neuqua Valley took a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter when two-way standout Nick Osikowicz scored on a 20-yard run. Naperville Central answered on its next possession when Joyce found Matt Lehmann for a 28-yard pass to start the series, then connected again five plays later on a 33-yard touchdown pass.
The score stayed 7-7 at the half when Neuqua Valley muffed a field-goal attempt in the final minute.
"In this league it takes 48 minutes every night," said Redhawks coach Mike Stine. "You've got to be physically tough and mentally tough to be able to continue to do this, and our kids are."
Rugamba and Neuqua Valley receiver-defensive back Isaiah Robertson, who's garnered numerous college offers, battled throughout the night, but both teams' entire defensive units played well.
Osikowicz rushed for 72 yards, while Brady rushed for 93. The stats were pretty much a wash at about 250 total yards apiece.
Both sides know that'll be life in the DVC this season.
"We knew it was going to be a battle when we came out here and we went 48 minutes with them," Lehmann said. "They're one of the best defenses, and we're one of the best defenses in the DVC. You've got to go 48 minutes."
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