The Naperville North Huskies played in their final home game of the regular season on Friday the 13. Looking to keep pace at the top of the Dupage Valley Conference, the Huskies were haunted by the dominant offensive prowess of the opposition. After a convincing win last week, the Huskies were spooked away from their gameplan as the squad returned to the losing column.

The Waubonsie Valley Warriors (4-4, 4-3) defeated the Huskies (5-3, 4-3) by a final score of 42-35.

After giving up a total of 41 points last week, the Huskies defense once again faltered against the running game en route to surrendering 42 total points. The scoring commenced on a TD plunge by Warriors QB Tanner Westwood early in the opening quarter and was quickly followed by the first of four all-purpose TD’s by Warriors RB Nate Ashford. Waubonsie Valley WR Charles Robinson injured himself while fighting for yardage late in the first quarter and, after briefly exiting the game, returned and scored a key TD late in the game.

“My team really needs me right now,” Robinson said. “I will always fight hard.”

The Huskies managed a trio of TD’s in the opening half, the first of which a 59-yard TD completion from QB Drake Davis to WR Ryan Laurenzo. After a TD connection between Davis and RB Brett Zdrubecky, the Huskies trailed 21-14 midway through the second quarter. After the Huskies defense forced the Warriors to punt from deep in their own territory, a high snap led to a special teams TD. LB Bo Richter forced Warriors P Cross Holmes to fumble the football on the goal line and LB Andrew Reinhard recovered in the end zone to tie the game.

Down by 8 with under five minutes left in the game, QB Drake Davis scampered into the end zone with under 2 minutes remaining and, after a successful two-point conversion from Davis to WR Jack Hinkle, the Huskies tied the game.

With 1:33 on the clock, the Warriors marched down the field and took a 42-35 lead with 32 seconds remaining on a clutch 40-yard TD strike from Westwood to Robinson. After a string of completions on the ensuing drive for the Huskies, the Warriors sealed the victory by intercepting Davis in the end zone on the game’s final play.

“Our team has a lot of heart,” Davis said. “We will learn from our mistakes and move on.”

The Huskies travel to Grange Field at Wheaton-Warrenville South High School next week for the final game of the regular season. The Huskies look to end the regular season on a high note in preparation for the playoffs. Despite losing their final home game of the regular season, the sheer confidence of Head Coach Sean Drendel has shown no signs of deterioration.

“We just have to bounce back,” Drendel said. “We will get it done.”