The Naperville North Huskies played their opening round playoff game on Saturday. In freezing temperatures, the Huskies looked to advance in the postseason for the first time in seven years. However, the Huskies were met by a brick wall of sheer defense, leading to a first-round exit for the second consecutive season.

The Oswego Panthers (9-1, 8-1) defeated the Huskies (6-4, 5-3) by a final score of 28-14.

Facing an Oswego team that had given up only 54 points all season, the Huskies were able to put the first points on the board after a 66-yard opening drive culimnated in a 1-yard TD plunge by RB Brett Zdrubecky. Less than a minute later, the Panthers answered back with the first of three rushing TD’s by RB Charles Coleman. For the rest of the opening half, both offenses were held scoreless, a reality that Head Coach Sean Drendel noted with a tinge of inevitability.

“We are giving up a lot of yards,” Drendel said. “We are bending, but not breaking.”

The Panthers received the second-half kickoff and wasted no time marching down the field. The drive ended in a 1-yard TD run by Coleman, and the two-point conversion was successful. With under two minutes remaining in the third quarter, the running game of the Panthers continued their dominance with an 8-yard TD scamper to double the lead.

Trailing by 14 points, the Huskies entered the fourth quarter with their backs against the wall. On the first possession of the quarter for the Huskies, QB Drake Davis connected with Zdrubecky for a 45-yard TD to cut the deficit in half. However, the Panthers responded quickly with their fourth rushing TD of the night, this one from nine yards out. With under eight minutes remaining in the game, the defense of the Panthers doubled down and ended the season for the Huskies. Davis finished with 233 yards and a TD through the air in his final high school game.

“We left it all out there,” Davis said. “This team will work hard in the offseason, no doubt.”  

The Huskies enter the offseason after consecutive playoff appearances in preparation for a tough schedule next year. The absence of All-Conference stars OL Nick Vogel, WR’s Ryan Laurenzo and Nick Calcagno, and Davis next season will begin a new era of Huskie football.

“It will be tough without them,” Drendel said. “They are great kids and great people, it will be hard to replace them.”

The Huskies had a couple of memorable victories this season, namely a 42-point comeback in the opening week at Edwardsville and a victory in the Crosstown Classic over Naperville Central.

“We just have to play better in the postseason,” Drendel said. “We will commit ourselves in the offseason.”

After two straight opening-round playoff exits, the Huskies hope to find themselves in the postseason again next year. As the saying goes, the third time’s the charm.

“We just have to keep pressing on,” Drendel said. “Next season is a new chapter.”