Roberts, Plainfield North trample Plainfield South
By Tommy Stokke For Sun-Times Media September 8, 2012 1:08AM
Plainfield North back Trent Cavin braces for a hit as he runs in a two point conversion against Plainfield South. | John Patsch~For Sun-Times Media
Player of the game
Plainfield North’s Kurt Palandech was 3-of-6 passing for 38 yards to go along with 76 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.
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Updated: October 10, 2012 6:30AM
Running out of the inflated Plainfield North helmet before the game wasn’t enough for Jay Roberts.
He didn’t waste much time getting in another sprint.
Roberts took the game’s opening handoff 77 yards in 12 seconds, propelling the host Tigers to a fast start in what became a 35-19 win over Plainfield South in the Southwest Prairie opener for both teams.
“It doesn’t get much better than that,” North coach Tim Kane said. “We were able to use that momentum early, and then chew the clock late. I thought we played real well.”
Before chewing the clock, North (2-1) fed Roberts.
After South went three-and-out following North’s first score, Roberts (26 carries, 182 yards) got nine totes in a 17-play, 70-yard drive capped by a 1-yard scoring burst by Trent Cavin. Quarterback Kurt Palandech (3-of-6, 38 yards) also kept the drive going with fourth-down conversions on 14- and 6-yard runs.
Palandech finished with 76 yards and two touchdowns rushing on 10 carries.
“Kurt is obviously a special player for us. He makes plays for us,” Kane said. “We made a lot of people miss. But a lot of people don’t realize him picking up first downs is huge for us. Whether we score or not, we’re keeping it away from them.”
The Cougars (1-2) got on the board with a Matthew Imburgia field goal, set up by a 49-yard Joshua Harris run and a 17-yard pass from Ricky Luna (9-of-22, 94 yards) to Kyle Voda. After a Tigers fumble on their ensuing possession, South got a 1-yard scoring run from Luna to make it 14-9.
Just when it appeared the pendulum had swung in South’s favor, it reversed.
A Cavin 28-yard run set up Palandech’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Brett Fox with 1:25 left in the first half. Midway through the third, Palandech pushed the advantage to 28-9 with a 22-yard scoring run.
“Our running backs were great, and so was our defense,” Palandech said. “I’m a speedster so I like getting on the outside, too.”
The Cougars let another touchdown chance slip away in the red zone, instead settling for an Imburgia field goal.
Luna’s 31-yard pass to Mike Valentine with less than a minute to play rounded out the scoring.
“Overall, I thought our defense played real well,” Kane said. “We were able to get some big stops and hold them to field goals. Obviously I don’t like that last touchdown at the end, but they’ve got some playmakers.”
“First of all, you have to give North credit,” South coach Ken Bublitz said. “They came out prepared and played very well.
“We didn’t finish, and that was the difference.”
