Plainfield North defeats Plainfield Central

Plainfield North running back Jay Roberts scored two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving, and had 154 yards rushing on 22 carries in the Tigers’ 28-7 win at Plainfield Central.

Updated: October 24, 2012 6:31AM

Jay Roberts made sure he held on to the ball this week.

A week after committing a crucial fumble and getting benched, the Plainfield North running back scored two touchdowns — a 2-yard run and a 24-yard reception — and netted 154 yards on 22 carries Friday night as the visiting Tigers defeated Southwest Prairie rival Plainfield Central 28-7.

Roberts said he was just trying to focus a week after committing a fumble near the end zone in the Tigers’ victory over Plainfield East.

But a pregame shower almost rattled his nerves.

“I really had to step it up because last week was disappointing with those two fumbles in the first half, and I really had to clear my mind and restart,” Roberts said. “I had to keep two hands on the ball, and at first I was worried (about the rain) and I was praying that it wouldn’t (rain during the game) and it didn’t.”

Plainfield North (4-1, 3-0) led 14-0 at halftime after Kurt Palendech threw a 72-yard touchdown bomb on the game’s first play from scrimmage to receiver Brock Thoms. Roberts added a 2-yard touchdown run with 6:28 to go in the first quarter to account for the halftime score.

Central (3-2, 1-2) had bad first-half luck when North defensive back Corey Johnson intercepted Central quarterback Mike Smiles in the end zone. In the second quarter, the Wildcats were driving deep in North territory, bringing the ball down to the North 3-yard line, when Tyler Erdman was stuffed at the 2.

On the very next possession, Central had another chance to score when the Wildcat defense netted a safety. But officials called Central for a personal foul and the safety was negated.

North increased its lead to 28-0 early in the fourth quarter when lineman Zack Yost recovered a fumble in the end zone.

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