Oct. 31--The first option turned out to be best option for Naperville Central on Friday.
His team struggling with dropped passes and unable to generate a running game, Naperville Central senior quarterback Conor Joyce took matters into his own hands -- and legs.
Joyce's 2-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter sealed a 14-7 comeback victory over Bolingbrook in the first round of the Class 8A playoffs in Naperville. The Redhawks will play Warren or Curie in the second round.
Joyce did most of his damage in the first three quarters with his arm, but changed the momentum with his running. With the score tied 7-7, Joyce carried four straight times for 32 yards, finishing the drive with his 2-yard scoring run. Joyce rushed 23 times for a game-high 106 yards. He passed for 175 yards, but threw two interceptions.
"They were doing a good job of covering our receivers, and they have some athletes on defense," Joyce said. "That last drive our coach called a draw play, and then saw how pumped up I was and he kept rolling with it. The line did a great job opening holes for me."
The Redhawks (9-1) fell into an early hole when Bolingbrook defensive back Trevon Anderson returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.
Naperville Central running back Luke Brady knotted the score at 7-7 with a 4-yard touchdown run on the final play of the third quarter.
The Raiders (5-5) failed to generate any offensein the final three quarters, rushing for 91 yards and passing for 43. A week after defeating then-No. 1 Homewood-Flossmoor to qualify for the playoffs, the Raiders managed 51 yards in the second half.
The Redhawks' defense intercepted two passes, with Matt Meier's pick late in the fourth quarter sealing the win.
"Our offense has done a great job all year, but we knew we had to pick it up after they didn't score in the first half," Meier said.
Naperville Central overcame its own troubles to advance to the second round. The Redhawks missed two field goals, turned the ball over twice and had a drive end at Bolingbrook's 1-yard line late in the first half.
Bob Narang is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
Player of the game: Conor Joyce, 11-for-20 passing, 175 yards, 2 INTs; 23 carries, 106 yards, TD.
Key performers: Bolingbrook -- Trevon Anderson, 25-yard INT return TD; Tuf Borland, 9 tackles, 1/2 sack. Naperville Central -- Manny Rugamba, 7 receptions, 88 yards; Luke Brady, 11 carries, 42 yards, TD.
