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Neuqua Valley victory a kick

Usually the only time anyone at a football game pays attention to the kicker is when he boots a game-winning field goal.

Neuqua Valley's Stephen Ruiz commandeered the spotlight much earlier on Friday night when he converted field goals of 40, 45 and 39 yards in the game's first 20 minutes to stake the Wildcats to a 9-0 lead. Neuqua Valley went on to a 29-7 DuPage Valley Conference defeat of District 204 rival Waubonsie Valley.

"I was just excited to get those attempts, and I want to thank the coaches for trusting me," Ruiz said. "I put in a lot of work this summer and I was waiting to get the opportunities. I love kicking under pressure and getting a chance to kick three in a half is great."

Ruiz actually made 4 first-half field goals, but his successful 39-yard effort was nullified by a Neuqua penalty and he nudged the subsequent 44-yard attempt wide right.

"He's done a real good job, anytime we get inside the 30 we feel good," said Neuqua coach Bill Ellinghaus. "We were able to go up two scores tonight with just kicking field goals."

The Wildcats (2-1, 2-1) added to their lead in spectacular fashion late in the first half when Jake Eskoff hooked up with Patrick Hoffman on a 98-yard touchdown pass, the longest in school history, which made it 16-0 at the break.

"They were blitzing so much and thinking safety," Ellinghaus said. "Their safety bit on the in route and he just got behind him and Jake did a great job getting him the ball."

The Neuqua defense added to the scoring in the third quarter when Trevor Tesmond scooped up a Waubonsie fumble near midfield and scooted 47 yards to make it 23-0. The advantage grew to 29-0 with seven minutes to play when Eskoff found Zach Wenz for a 9-yard score.

Waubonsie (1-2, 1-2) averted a shutout when Nate Ashford barged into the end zone from 3 yards out with a minute to play.

The Warriors were done in by mistakes all night. They committed 10 penalties, lost two fumbles, threw two interceptions and had Cross Holmes' 26-yard field-goal attempt on the last play of the first half blocked by Neuqua's Ryan Wheeler.

"It looked like we've never played football before," said Waubonsie coach Paul Murphy. "I don't know if it was the magnitude of the night playing a rival, but we just didn't get into a rhythm."

The miscues overshadowed a pretty stout performance by the Waubonsie defense, which held the Wildcats to 42 yards in the second half.

"Other than the 98-yard pass when we blew a coverage, our defense played great and gave us a chance," Murphy said.

Images: Waubonsie Valley falls to Neuqua Valley, 29-7 in football

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