Highland Park 21, Niles North 20
THE SKINNY
Senior Tommy Sutker threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to junior Cole Greenberg to give Highland Park (7-1, 4-0 CSL North) a 21-20 lead over Niles North (3-5, 2-2) with 5:18 remaining Friday. The Giants’ defense then forced a three-and-out, and the offense was able to run out the clock.
TURNING POINT
Highland Park was forced to punt with 6:31 remaining in the game down 20-14, but the punt hit a Niles North player in the back and was recovered by the Giants at the Niles North 11-yard line. Highland Park scored the game-winning touchdown three plays later.
THE STAR
Giants senior Grant Paley was a difference-maker on both sides of the ball. His 26-yard touchdown reception put Highland Park up 7-0 in the first quarter, and he intercepted a second-quarter pass after Niles North had driven to the Highland Park 30-yard line.
BY THE NUMBERS
Niles North outgained Highland Park by nearly 200 yards of total offense (421-236), but the Vikings turned the ball over on downs after reaching the red zone on three separate occasions.
QUOTABLE
“We really have always tried to get the most points out of it — we take chances. We’re always trying to get seven points instead of three. We missed an (extra point), and we lost by one.” — Niles North senior Eddie Rodriguez on Niles North going for it on fourth down in the red zone three times rather than attempting a field goal
