In the final game of the season, the varsity football team lost to the Maine South Hawks.
The Huskies (7-3) lost to the Hawks (7-3) by a score of 49-42 on Friday, Nov. 2.
The Hawks started the game on offense. Their sophomore quarterback Jameson Purcell (15) led his team to an early touchdown. Purcell, a renowned player who has offers from universities such as Auburn University, University of Miami, University of Washington and more, played excellently throughout the entire game. With 8:55 left in the first quarter, Purcell and the Hawks scored their first touchdown of the game. However, in a convoluted trick play, Naperville North senior QB Jacob Bell (2) lateraled the ball to senior wide receiver Brock Pettaway (11) so Pettaway could throw the ball to senior WR Quinn Morris (85) for a long touchdown, tying the score at 7-7 with 8:50 left in the first quarter. After Morris’ touchdown, the Hawks responded with a long drive, resulting in a touchdown. The Hawks’ kicker missed the extra point, making the score 13-7 with 1:42 left in the first quarter. Going into the second quarter, the Huskies’ offense failed to score. Instead, they had a turnover-on-downs, giving the Hawks great field position. Maine South capitalized on this, scoring their next touchdown,extending their lead to 20-7 with 4:15 left in the half. Morris and Bell connected again with 2:12 left in the half, leading to a score of 20-14. With that touchdown, Morris broke the record for most receiving touchdowns for a Huskie in a career with 13. With five seconds left in the half, the Hawks scored another touchdown through the air, making the score 27-14. Senior offensive lineman and captain Austin Roush (75) detailed the struggles the Huskies had to overcome throughout the season.
“I was really proud of the way we fought every game. I was told by one of our coaches that. of our seven wins, we were leading in only three of them at halftime. We played through a deficit the entire game, and we were so close to overcoming it,” Roush said.
The Huskies started the third quarter with the ball. Bell and Pettaway helped the Huskies march down the field, along with senior WR Chico Thomas’ (82) incredible catch that gave Bell the opportunity to run the ball in with 9:44 left in the quarter, making the score 27-21. The Hawks then scored two touchdowns in a row, the first with 7:23 left in the quarter and the second with 3:38 left in the quarter. On the second touchdown, the Hawks converted on the 2-point conversion, making the score 42-21. After that, Thomas caught a long pass from Bell for a touchdown with 3:14 left in the quarter. Going into the fourth quarter, the score was 42-28. Shortly thereafter, however, Purcell made the score 49-28 with 11:18 left in the game. The Huskies followed with two touchdowns, both from Pettaway. Right after the second touchdown, junior defensive back Quincy Blaise (35) intercepted Purcell. The Huskies were driving to score, but a series of drops from the Huskie receivers ultimately cost NNHS the game. Bell mentioned how his goals going into this season ended up panning out.
“Last year our defense carried us a little bit and the offense was not the strongest, so I promised myself we’d make a statement and change that and I think we did,” Bell said.
Though there is a sense of sadness for many, there is still hope for next season. Many seniors are looking forward to seeing how the juniors will lead the team next year. Bell detailed his feelings towards next year’s senior class.
“They’re going to be very special. They’re guys that know how to claw and scratch and I think
we made a good example for them going forward,” Bell said.
Head Coach Sean Drendel wanted to focus on and celebrate the seniors that just played their final high school football game.
“I’m super proud of their mentality and who they are as young men. I’m guessing they’re going to have lots of success later in life because they never think they’re out of anything,” Drendel said.
