After trailing 8-0 early, Plainfield North stormed back and scored the next 48 consecutive points en route to a 48-14 victory over host Oswego East in Southwest Prairie conference action Friday night.
Plainfield North starting quarterback Kurt Palendech (8 carries, 181 yards 2TD’s, 2/3 46 yards, TD) was “Mr. Everything” in the game. Palendech was most effective on the ground but was just as dangerous when he needed to be in the air. Palendech also showed his two-way versatility intercepting a pass on defense.
“We came out running the ball a lot and we knew that they had to respect that and it opened up play-action for us,” Palendech said. “We just took it one play at a time and the final score showed that we overcame the early turnover.”
Jay Roberts (15 carries, 104 yards, 2 TD’s), Robert Baker (7 carries, 56 yards TD), Brett Fox (rec. 38 yards, TD) and sophomore Quintin Hoosman (7 carries, 45 yards TD) led Plainfield North. Quarterback Sean Kennedy (7/25, 104 yards, TD) and Chris Cooper (8 carries, 41 yards) led Oswego East.
Plainfield North (7-2, 6-1) fumbled on the opening kickoff giving the Wolves a short field to work with from the Tigers thirty-two yard line. Four plays later Cooper connected with wideout Scooter Smith for a 7-yard touchdown with 10:56 left in the quarter and an 8-0 lead.
“A special teams turnover got us down early and gave them momentum but we knew what we had to do offensively,” Palendech said.
On the next offensive possession the Tigers marched down the field and Baker’s 2-yard touchdown run cut the Wolves lead to 8-6. Palendech broke free for an 87-yard touchdown run on the next series and gave the Tigers the lead at 14-8 with 2:54 left in the opening quarter.
Oswego East (4-5, 2-5) failed to convert a fake punt on a fourth-and-two inside their forty-yard line and Plainfield North capitalized quickly. Two plays later Roberts scored on a 36-yard touchdown run and extend the lead to 21-8 as the first quarter expired.
“For the most part after the first series our defense played well,” Plainfield North coach Tim Kane said. “I thought we responded well to the adversity early.”
Plainfield North led 35-8 at halftime and out-gained the Wolves 332 to 100 yards in total offense.
Palendech’s 47-yard touchdown run extended the lead to 42-8 with 10:20 left in the third quarter.
“Hats off to them but we just got beat by a better football team tonight,” Oswego East coach Tyson LeBlanc said.
