Mother Nature beats Dundee-Crown, McHenry

Mother Nature was the big winner at Dundee-Crown Friday night.

Persistent lightning in the area forced postponement of the game after a half. It will resume today at 11 a.m.

McHenry scored with 2 seconds left in the first half to go ahead 13-7. Just as the horn sounded and the teams were leaving the field, the announcement was made to clear the field. After waiting about an hour, the decision was made to pull the plug for the night as intermittent lightning flashes continued.

On the field, the action was not lightning-quick, at least initially. Both teams tried to pound the ball in the first quarter, without much success and the period ended scoreless.

But each team found some success through the air in the second quarter. McHenry quarterback Chris Zieba found Sean Richards for a 30-yard TD to get the Warriors on the scoreboard.

The Chargers answered with a nice drive of their own. Quarterback Josh Raby found some rhythm with his receivers, particularly Jack Michalski. He found Michalski 4 times during a 79-yard drive, and Michalski paid it off with an 11-yard catch for the score. Kareem Dunner contributed a couple of nice runs during the drive as well.

The Chargers' defense rose up as well. After Trevor Fed sacked Zieba on a play that also drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, the Warriors were backed up at their own 16-yard line. The Chargers had all the momentum.

But a muffed punt gave the Warriors new life. The Warriors made the Chargers pay, driving 45 yards in 10 plays. Facing second and goal at the 2 with 4 seconds left in the half, McHenry coach Jon Niemic went for it. The decision paid off when Luke Peacock dove over the goal line. He lost the ball in the end zone, but had already crossed the plane.

Raby's first pass of the night was intercepted, but he completed his last 5 for 58 yards. Dunner and Ricky Ibarra combined to add 53 yards on the ground.

Zieba completed 6 of 8 for 74 yards for McHenry.