If you missed this senior night football game, you’ll be sorry you did. As a senior and a fan myself, I can honestly say it was one of, if not THE best football game I’ve seen in all my four years at Niles North.
Coming into this game, it was exactly as intense as a fan could want it. Deerfield was 4-4 overall, as were the Vikings. What made this game so important? The winner would become playoff eligible. The last time Niles North was playoff eligible? 1992.
The first quarter had a whole game’s worth of action. Deerfield started their first play from scrimmage with a fumble, leading to a touchdown run by Barrington Wade which was his first of many. Deerfield retaliated quickly, however, as fullback Johnny Fisher punched in a touchdown of his own. Fisher finished the game with an astounding 35 carries for 345 yards.
On the following Vikings possession, Craig Dawkins fumbled into the hands of Deerfield leading to score by quarterback Ranallo. At the end of the first quarter, it was already showing glimpses of a shootout as the score was 21-21.
Seconds into the first quarter, Fisher ran it in for another touchdown to give the Warriors back the lead. They would go on to score two more touchdowns to Niles North’s one. After a stellar return by Yomade Adefeso with under a minute to go in the half, there was some hope for Niles North to go into the half with some momentum. After an overthrown pass by Tony Granato to the end zone(one of his few incompletions of the night), the second quarter came to an end and Niles North found themselves in a 42-28 deficit.
Defensive end Chinedu Nwansi commented on the atmosphere at the half. “It wasn’t great, people weren’t happy. But at the same time no one was willing to give up,” he said.
The Vikings would receive to start the second half, and after a quick two minute drive they came up with another touchdown, now trailing by just one score. Unfortunately the following Warrior drive, Niles North let up a huge 50 yard run and again found themselves in a two touchdown hole. On the bright side, that would be the last time Deerfield scored. By the end of the third quarter after some fantastic offense by the Vikings, the score was tied at 49.
Most of the fourth quarter was building up momentum for the last few minutes of the game. Neither team scored for eight minutes. The most crucial play for the Vikings was an amazing 4th down reception by Jordan Labelle that brought them to the red zone. It was arguably the play of the game given the circumstances. It then ultimately set up Barrington Wade for his fifth touchdown of the night to put the Vikings up 56-49. Fast forward to the last play of Deerfield’s drive, while they were marching up the field with 30 seconds to go in the game, they coughed it up into the hands of Niles North.
With the final score of 56-49, Niles North’s record improved to 5-4, and are playoff eligible.
Quarterback Tony Granato commented on the game saying, “It’s pretty surreal. To do something your school hasn’t done for 22 years is a great feeling. Not everyone believed in us.”
Granato finished the night with one of the best performances of his career going 22-25 for 393 yards and 2 TDs, however to him it was all about the team.
“I could go 1-30 and if we got the win it would feel the same. It was a complete team effort yesterday and we’re looking to carry this momentum into the playoffs,” he said
Come support the Vikings at their first playoff game this Saturday against Cary-Grove. There will be a fan bus, more information to come soon!
