From Staff Reports
NAPERVILLE -- The Neuqua Valley offense that was clicking so well for weeks suddenly slammed to halt. And the timing couldn't have been worse for the Wildcats.
Neuqua managed only 167 yards of offense and six first downs in a 20-0 loss to visiting St. Charles North on Friday night in a game delayed 90 minutes by lightning. The loss will likely keep the Wildcats (4-5, 3-4 Upstate Eight Conference) from a seventh consecutive trip to the playoffs.
It also marked the first time Neuqua had been shut out since Week 3 of the 2003 season, a span of 57 games.
Neuqua, which had averaged 37.8 points in its previous five games, committed five turnovers.
The Wildcats came up empty on three consecutive possessions inside the North Stars' 20-yard line while trailing 7-0.
On the first, Alex Lincoln was intercepted on the goal line just before halftime. On Neuqua's first second-half possession, Nate Pena fumbled at the 17. And on their next possession, the Wildcats had a 19-yard touchdown pass from Lincoln to Mike Camire negated by a penalty that forced a punt.
The North Stars (6-3, 4-2) led 7-0 at the half, and added two fourth-quarter touchdowns to beat Neuqua for the first time. The Wildcats won last year 45-0 in the team's inaugural meeting.
North clinched a seventh straight trip to the playoffs with the triumph.
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