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    • Purcell's 479 yards and 6 touchdowns propel Maine South past Naperville North in the first-round barnburner
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    Purcell's 479 yards and 6 touchdowns propel Maine South past Naperville North in the first-round barnburner

    Kathleen William Posted on

    The story heading into the Class 8A first-round playoff game between Naperville North and Maine South was the quarterbacks.

    Would the Huskies' veteran Jacob Bell or the Hawks' rising Jameson Purcell lead their team to the second round against West Aurora?

    In this case, youth prevailed over experience as Purcell threw for 479 yards and six touchdowns, sending the Hawks back to Park Ridge with a thrilling 49-42 victory.

    “The biggest thing you can prepare for is watching a movie every week,” Purcell said. “And I do that often. And I think it just prepares you really well so that you don’t have to worry too much about it in the game.”

    With the Hawks (7-3) leading 49-28 in the fourth quarter, Bell hit Brock Pettaway for touchdowns on two straight possessions, bringing the Huskies (7-3) to seven points and throwing four touchdown passes to him for the game .

    An interception by Quincy Blaise gave the Huskies their last chance to tie the game with time running out or win.

    Naperville North entered Maine South territory, but shortly after calling its final timeout, it stalled at the 29-yard line with 19 seconds left, ending its season.

    “Our kids have competed all year long,” Huskies coach Sean Drendel said. “And they continued to do that. It’s a special group of kids and I’m going to miss them a lot.”

    After the teams traded touchdowns in the first quarter, Purcell threw touchdown passes to Dellumo and Mason Patrus, respectively. The latter score capped a 98-yard drive that would have made John Elway jealous.

    Bell, who became the Huskies' single-season record holder with 422 passing yards in the game, gave Naperville North the lead back with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Quinn Morris. This touchdown gave Morris his 15th school career touchdown receptions record.

    With five seconds left in the first half, Maine South went up by two points when Purcell hit Joey Naughton for a 21-yard touchdown.

    Each team scored twice in the third quarter, with a Hawks touchdown being controversial. Purcell completed what appeared to be a 6-yard pass to Naughton from the Huskies' 20-yard line, prompting a referee's whistle to blow, but that proved to be premature. Naughton had hit a defender instead of the turf, so he kept going until he reached the end zone to give the Hawks a 42-21 lead.

    Early in the fourth quarter, Purcell threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Vitel, which made the difference in the game.

    “We made a promise to each other last night,” Hawks coach David Inserra said. “And they kept their promise to leave everything on the field. I think we did that.”

    Maine South's Mason Patras catches a pass for a touchdown against Naperville North in the second quarter of the Class 8A first-round playoff football game Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Naperville.
    Joe Lewnard/[email protected]

    Maine South's Joey Naughton is tackled by Naperville North's Griffin Jurjovec during the Class 8A first-round playoff football game Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Naperville.
    Joe Lewnard/[email protected]

    Maine South quarterback Jameson Purcell throws a pass during the Class 8A first-round playoff football game against Naperville North on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Naperville.
    Joe Lewnard/[email protected]

    Naperville North quarterback Jacob Bell is tackled by Maine South's Jake Cantall in the Class 8A first-round playoff football game in Naperville on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.
    Joe Lewnard/[email protected]

    Naperville North's Quinn Morris catches a pass for a touchdown in the second quarter on a play defended by Maine South's Max Sivore during the Class 8A first-round playoff football game Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Naperville.
    Joe Lewnard/[email protected]

    Maine South's Michael Dellumo catches a pass for his second touchdown in the first quarter during the Class 8A first-round playoff football game Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Naperville.
    Joe Lewnard/[email protected]

    Naperville North's Quinn Morris scores a touchdown against Maine South in the first quarter of the Class 8A first-round playoff football game Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Naperville.
    Joe Lewnard/[email protected]

    Naperville North quarterback Jacob Bell throws a pass during the Class 8A first-round playoff football game Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Naperville.
    Joe Lewnard/[email protected]

    Naperville North's Chico Thomas, left, catches a pass in front of Maine South's Max Sivore, front, and Nick Hachigan during the Class 8A first-round playoff football game Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Naperville.
    Joe Lewnard/[email protected]

    Maine South's Niko Kokosioulis scores a kickoff return during the Class 8A first-round playoff football game against Naperville North on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Naperville.
    Joe Lewnard/[email protected]

    Maine South's Joey Naughton carries the ball during the Class 8A first-round playoff football game against Naperville North on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Naperville.
    Joe Lewnard/[email protected]

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    Kathleen William
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