On Friday night, the Naperville North Dawg Pound wore shirts that said “Dawgs Gotta Eat”. On the field, Naperville North came out hungry for a win and defeated crosstown rival Naperville Central 50-31.

The Huskies (6-1, 5-1) did not let up against the Redhawks (3-4, 3-3), scoring a season-high in points . North also picked up its first win in the Wes Spencer Crosstown Classic since 2012.

On the Huskies’ first drive, Cross Robinson exploded on a 52-yard touchdown run to open the scoring. After a Cameron Hardy interception, a 61 yard drive culminated in an Eric Wright touchdown run from three yards out. The Huskies 14-0 lead was cut in half after running back AJ Deinhart’s 5-yard touchdown run for the Redhawks. Deinhart rushed for a total of 222 yards in the game. In the second quarter, field goals by both teams made the score 17-10 approaching halftime. Still, the Huskies had a trick play up their sleeves. Matt Montgomery received the handoff on the sweep and reversed it Ryan Laurenzo who found Luke Cegles for 36 yards. The drive was capped off by Cross Robinson’s second rushing touchdown of the night, giving North a 23-10 lead heading into the break.

Central came out inspired at the beginning of the second half, scoring on their first drive on quarterback Patrick Ryan’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Ruiz. Yet the Huskies had an answer once again. Eric Wright found a hole went 23 yards for the touchdown, making it still a two-possession game at 30-17. On the Redhawks fourth play of the following drive, Ryan found Ruiz again, this time for a 42-yard touchdown. Not to be outdone, Cegles found wide receiver Nick Calcagno for a catch-and-run 73 yard touchdown, putting the Huskies up 36-24. Later in the 3rd, on a nine play 65-yard drive, Deinhart ran it in from two yards, his second touchdown of the night. His run cut the Huskies lead to 36-31. But the Huskie defense stepped up when it mattered most, recovering a Deinhart fumble on the 50 yard line. Cross Robinson closed the door on the Redhawks, breaking free on the next play from scrimmage, going 50 yards to the end zone, putting the Huskies up 43-31 with 3:31 to play. The Huskies hit the 50 point mark after Grant Ericksen’s fifth interception of the season, leading to Eric Wright’s third touchdown of the time, this one from two yards out.

The Huskies highest-scoring performance of the year to date is thanks in part to the complex spread offense installed by first-year offensive coordinator Mike Fitzgerald.

“The key [in the Central game] was being able to run the football,” said Fitzgerald. “When you can run the football and own the line of scrimmage you operate in a more efficient manner. When you throw the ball, more things can go wrong, so we just try to simplify our offense. We wanted to establish the running game and complement it with some easy play-action stuff”

The spread offense has allowed all players, especially running backs Cross Robinson and Eric Wright, to maximize their talents on the field.

“When you got two great players like that you want them involved as much as possible,” said Fitzgerald.

Against Central, Robinson had 166 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Wright had 122 yards and 3 touchdowns. Both running backs have shared the touches, with Wright having 141 carries and Robinson having 79. One big reason that they’re able to split the carries and succeed is their different styles of running. Wright tends to be quick and very agile, while Robinson is a power back with the ability to lose defenders. Fitzgerald recognizes the situational importance of their abilities.

“Cross Robinson is a physical, downhill runner and has got some deceptive speed,” said Fitzgerald. “Eric has great vision and balance, and does a great job of setting up his blocks.”

Both running backs see their complementary styles as something that helps each other succeed.

“We both have very different styles and with them both being different, we’re able to spread defenses into a very uncomfortable place,” said Robinson. “We love dominating together and will continue to do it along with our offensive line being our number one reason for success.”

Wright noted how the running back tandem keeps defenses off-balance.

“Even if most of the time we’re not on the field together, I feel like having both of us rotate keeps teams on their heels,” said Wright.

The success of both Robinson and Wright comes from two different paths. Wright has had the most experience of the two after playing in the majority of games last season, despite an MCL sprain.

“I feel like coming back as a senior and getting a feel for the game last year I’ve just really matured as a player and a teammate,” said Wright. “That even as a team having as many returning starters as we have. We’ve taken a step forward and attacked all the challenges and adversity that’s come our way.”

Robinson, on the other hand, had a back injury that cost him his whole 2015 season. He talked about how his injury has made him stronger physically and mentally.

“My injury last year made me one of the hardest working people I have ever met. To this very day, I work every day to ensure my core is strong enough to support my spinal area,” said Robinson. “It also has matured me as a person. I overcame so much adversity that every other challenge in my life now is like a walk in the park. I am even stronger mentally, emotionally and spiritually than I am physically.”

With a mindset like that, there is no telling how far the Huskies will go. Naperville North looks to build off of the Central win at Waubonsie Valley on Friday. From there, the Huskies conclude their regular season against Wheaton-Warrenville South at home. And then, the playoffs begin.

Naperville North vs. Naperville Central statistics (courtesy of NN Athletics)