Highland Park holds off rival Deerfield

DEERFIELD — Highland Park’s football team has a list of team goals taped to its locker room bulletin board at Wolters Field.

“Start Fast…

Beat Deerfield

Win Conference

Win State!”

The 5-0 Giants can now check off item two on that list. Friday night, they took down archrival Deerfield (1-4, 0-1 CSL North) in a 17-14 nailbiter that came down to the final minute. Entering the game, the Giants had beaten their previous four opponents by an average of more than 21 points per game, but Friday night’s rivalry game turned into an instant classic.

“These guys will remember this one forever,” Highland Park coach Hal Chiodo said.

Returning starters exalted in their second straight win over Deerfield. The Giants took down the Warriors last year, 17-6.

“We made history,” lineman Arrie Mitchell said. “We beat Deerfield again. I’m speechless right now.”

Highland Park led 10-7 at halftime and for most of the third quarter until Deerfield fullback Johnny Fisher tiptoed down the sideline for a 28-yard touchdown to put the Warriors ahead 14-10. That score held until Highland Park quarterback Sam Nevers engineered a masterful 91-yard touchdown drive, throwing four straight completions, including a 36-yard strike to Luke Norica for the eventual game-winning score with

six minutes to go.

“When I caught it, I was basically running on adrenaline,” Norcia said. “I broke a

few tackles and somehow found my way into the end zone.

“Winning a football game is about players making plays,” Chiodo said. “Luke Norcia made a play tonight.”

Even after the momentum-shifting touchdown, the Giants’ defense needed to string together one last stop. Deerfield’s methodical offense, which ran for 255 yards on the night, made its way deep into Highland Park territory, chewing up almost the entire game clock along the way.

“They’re eating up their own clock,” Nevers remarked on the sideline as he watched the drive.

That proved to be just the case. Facing a fourth-and-8 from Highland Park’s 16-yard line with just 1:09 to go, Deerfield coach Steve Winiecki elected to bypass a field goal and go for the first down. Defensive end Teddy Sutker stuffed quarterback Brian Ranallo three yards short of the first-down marker to send the Giants to 5-0 — more than halfway to an undefeated regular season.

“We had so many third and fourth downs where Deerfield got the first down,” Sutker said. “I saw an opportunity and I took it.”

Winiecki reflected on his decision to opt out of a field goal attempt on the final fourth down.

“We had a play that we thought was going to work,” the 15th-year Deerfield coach said. “This is a game of inches, and that’s what it came down to.”

Entering high school, Nevers faced a decision to attend either Highland Park or Deerfield, based on living near the border of the two towns. Winning in such dramatic fashion on Deerfield’s turf was extra sweet for the senior.

“I can’t even put it into words,” Nevers said. “It’s the greatest I’ve ever felt.”