Highland Park holds off Glenbrook North to cap unbeaten regular season

NORTHBROOK — Highland Park football coaches carried a wooden yardstick with them at all times during practice this week.

The point: to remind players that just a single yard separated the Giants from a Central Suburban North championship last season. Trailing 21-17 in last year’s conference title game against Glenbrook North, Highland Park running back Kelshawn Shields was stuffed by the Spartans’ defense a yard short of the end zone on fourth down with 10 seconds left.

This year, the Giants’ quest for redemption culminated in a roller-coaster 34-33 win over Glenbrook North (4-5, 3-2) in Friday night’s de facto CSL North championship game.

“We got our revenge over them from last year,” senior defensive end Teddy Sutker said. “That was one of the worst feelings of my life, losing to them last year. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to beat them — by just one point.”

“There were a couple of times tonight where it came down to that one yard,” senior quarterback Sam Nevers said. “We made sure we got it.”

The victory not only secured Highland Park’s first conference title since 2009, but it also capped off an undefeated regular season for the 9-0 Giants, whose record now stands as the best in school history. This year’s squad surpassed the 1921 Highland Park (then Deerfield-Shields) team, which closed its regular season with an 8-0 record 93 years ago. Hordes of Highland Park fans stormed the field on Friday, joining the celebration after the historic win.

“We set four goals: start fast, beat Deerfield, win conference and win state,” said Nevers, who threw for 302 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions. “We’ve got a couple of those done. Now it’s on to the next one.”

“This is every little kids’ dream — to be in their high school senior year to be a conference championship winner,” senior defensive end Arrie Mitchell said. “I’m still trying to hold all of my emotions in right now.”

Glenbrook North running back John Clark, who rushed for 201 yards and three touchdowns, scored early in the second quarter to put the Spartans on top, 17-7. Nevers responded with three touchdown passes to put the Giants ahead 28-20 going into halftime. He had thrown four touchdowns and no picks at that point.

But Nevers threw three interceptions early in the third quarter, and Glenbrook North scored twice to take a 33-28 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Then, with nine minutes left in the game, senior Tommy Rudman took a reverse 13 yards to the end zone to put the Giants up 34-33.

Four minutes later, the Giants’ defense held strong on a Glenbrook North fourth-and-20 attempt to regain possession. Nevers’ 6-yard slant pass to Jack McGuire on third down with two minutes left sealed the win.

Glenbrook North’s loss kept the Spartans from becoming playoff eligible.

“What I’m most proud of is the way we reacted [to last year’s loss],” Highland Park coach Hal Chiodo said. “I preach all the time about how dealing with disappointment is huge. You can feel sorry for yourself, you can blame it on someone else or you can do something about it — and we did something about it.”