Huskie football improves to 3-0 with offensive explosion on Senior Night

The Naperville North Huskies played on their home turf last night for the first time since suffering an early exit from last year’s postseason. With the events of the past in the rearview mirror, the Huskies have averaged over 50 points per game through the first three games of the season. At this rate, an early entry into this year’s postseason is nearly inevitable.

The Huskies (3-0, 2-0) defeated the Wheaton North Falcons (2-1, 1-1) by a final score of 43-25 on Friday night.

After two consecutive scoring outbursts of 50+ points, the Huskies offense continues to amaze. The scoring commenced on a 3-yard TD strike from QB Drake Davis to star WR Nick Calcagno, who finished with three receiving TD’s, to give the Huskies the early lead. This was the first of four TD’s through the air for Davis. The offense didn’t skip a beat as they notched a 40+ point performance for the third straight week.

“We got the ball, scored and just kept rolling from there,” Davis said.

The offense of the Huskies centered around big plays from RB Jack Hinkle and WR Ryan Laurenzo. The theme for the team this year seems to be explosive offensive firepower, and this was certainly the case tonight.

“Our pass offense has been unbelievable,” Laurenzo said. “We can run too. With Ameir [Wilbourn] and Brett [Zdrubecky], we are unstoppable.”

The defense of the Huskies faltered early but found their footing in the second half. Falcons RB Sam Singleton recorded a pair of rush TD’s early in the contest, but the defense, anchored by senior captain Ryan Marrano, put the clamps on throughout the second half. Marrano, who missed the first two games of the season due to injury, made his season debut tonight while giving the team a mental boost on both sides of the ball.

“Marrano is a big factor, he’s our emotional leader,” Davis said. “Our defense played a lot better [tonight].”

The Huskies found themselves in search of an insurance TD late in the third quarter. Already up by three, Davis lobbed it up for Calcagno in the corner of the end zone who made a spectacular sprawling grab to cushion the lead for the Huskies.

“I got a little banged up on the ribs, but I caught it.” Calcagno said. “That’s all that matters.”

The Huskies look to extend their win streak to four next week as they take on the Lancers of Lake Park in the annual Homecoming game. With the offensive firepower that has been on display each of the first three weeks, there is no telling what the wide array of offensive weapons will dial up for next week. In a postgame assessment of the opposition, head coach Sean Drendel emphasized the obvious pattern.

“They [Wheaton North] got a little panicky,” Drendel said. “That’s what teams do against us.”