Neuqua Valley clobbers Thornwood

There were plenty of highlights on offense in Neuqua Valley's 41-8 nonconference football victory over visiting Thornwood on Friday night. But more about them later.

Junior defensive lineman Matt Quinn will remember this game for a long time. He scored his first high school touchdown thanks to recovering a fumble on the Thornwood 3-yard line with 4:58 remaining until halftime.

"We ran the play that Coach (Bill Ellinghaus) called. I just got lucky. I think Josh Krajacic made the hit and I scooped the ball up," Quinn said. "It feels amazing. I'm glad to be able to be 1/11 of a great defense."

He got to keep the football.

Now for the air show.

Quarterback Jake Eskoff went 11 of 14 in the first half for 240 yards as the Wildcats (4-1) rolled up a 34-0 halftime lead against the winless Thunderbirds of the Southwest Suburban Conference.

Will Chevalier caught 4 passes for 100 yards during the first two quarters and scored once as did Zach Wenz. Noah Herdman was good for 2 touchdowns.

The first Neuqua touchdown was the longest scoring play of the game, a 49-yard toss from Eskoff to a complete open Wenz dashing along the sideline.

"The game plan all week was to start fast, finish fast and get on top early," Eskoff said.

The final Wildcats touchdown came with 6:32 left in the third quarter. Senior Myles Gascon took a pitchout from quarterback Joey Romano and hit end zone from 5 yards out.

Thornwood had the ball twice as long as Neuqua in the first half, but were not able to score until early in the third quarter and that would be it for them on the evening.

"I knew our defense is strong," Ellinghaus said. "They fill gaps and run to the football.

It's back to DuPage Valley Conference action next week as Neuqua hosts Naperville North, which suffered its first loss of the season Friday against Glenbard North.

"Our offense is starting to click. Jake was really on tonight and Cam (Raupach) ran the ball hard," Ellinghaus said.