Wauconda pulled a surprise move on Belvidere North and controlled the ball for most of the game. Just like last year.
But Belvidere North took an interception to the house. Just like last year. And turned back Wauconda again, beating the Bulldogs in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs for the second year in a row, winning 28-10 Saturday at Belvidere North.
The Blue Thunder (10-1) forced five turnovers, including four interceptions. Noah Rooney had two of them, including a 48-yard pick-6 that put North ahead 21-10 in the third quarter.
“We got them in a lot of third-and-longs,” North coach Jeff Beck said. “When we got them behind the sticks and knew it was a passing down, we dropped an extra player into coverage. We just repped the heck out of their pass plays (in practice).”
Wauconda (8-3) changed its defensive front. North got off to a slow start, but eventually adjusted and now has its first 10-win season in school history.