NCA Jets Outslug Forest Park To Win Regional Title

POWERS---Everyone knew going in that this game would be a war, and for 48 minutes of football Friday night, that's exactly what the North Central Jets and Forest Park Trojans waged: all-out warfare. It was punch, counter-punch.

It was Whitens vs Nocerini. Big play vs big play. And even a few defensive gems as well.

In the end, the defending state champion Jets had just a little more than the Trojans, and pulled out a 60-50 victory in Powers to clinch a regional championship.

North Central (11-0) has won all 24 of the games it has played in Eight-Man football over the past two years, and the two this year against Forest Park were the toughest.

The game got off to a great start for the Jets as Jason Whitens broke off a 41-yard touchdown run on the first series, and then the Trojans couldn't handle the ensuing kickoff.

Whitens would score on a four-yard run and pass to Dylan Gagne for a two-point play, making it 14-0. But if the Trojans were shellshocked, they sure didn't show it.

Daniel Nocerini literally took his team on his back, running the ball on every down before pounding it into the end zone for his forst touchdown, cutting the gap to 14-6.

The Jets responded quickly, however, as Whitens hit Bobby Kleiman with that patented shovel pass for a 31-yard score, putting the Jets in front, 22-6.

Nocerini again led his team down the field, with run after brusing run, eventually scoring a touchdown and two-point conversion to make it a 22-14 game. But the Jets struck quickly again, with Kleiman bursting through for a long touchdown run.

But once again, Nocerini led the Trojans back up field, but this time, with his arm. It was fourth-and-seven at the 45-yard-line when he found Parker Sundell in single coverage deep up-field.

The throw and catch set Forest Park up deep in Jets territory.

Moments later, Nocerini rolled out and threw a short pass to Sundell in the end zone for the touchdown. The two-point run by Nocerini cut the Jets' lead to 28-22.

The Jets continued to dominate on offense, as Whitens hooked up with Tyler Bentley for a long gain deep into Trojan territory. And then Whitens scored his third touchdown of the game to make it 34-22. Once again, however, the Jets missed the two-point play.

Nocerini wouldn't be denied, however, as he scored another touchdown, and the Trojans got the two-point conversion, making it a 34-30 game. Nocerini carried the ball a whopping 32 times in the first half, and ended up with 52 carries in the contest.

North Central still had time before halftime to bounce back, and the Jets scored two touchdowns...and the defense got a stop on a bad snap fumble.

Whitens threw a short pass to Kleiman, and Kleiman turned on the speed and ran 61 yards for a score. Then Whitens found Marcus Krachinski for a touchdown pass, making it 46-30 at the half.

The Jets, however, kept missing two-point conversions, irritating the NCA coaching staff. And in the third quarter, Forest Park bounced back to make it a nailbiter.

Whitens had only one interception all season long, but Nocerini picked him off early in the third quarter and returned it into Jets territory. Nocerini eventually scored on a one-yard run on fourth down, and then the two-point runh cut it to 46-38.

The Forest Park defense forced a punt, and Connor Bortolini got loose for a 75-yard touchdown run. The Jets stopped the two-point run, so NCA still led, 46-44.

That's how the fourth quarter started, and the Jets needed less than two minutes to get back on the scoreboard. Whitens hooked up with Krachinski again, this time with a beautifully-thrown ball into the end zone for a touchdown, making it 52-44.

North Central, however, missed still another two-point conversion, and that kept the Trojans within one score on the board.

The Trojans drove into NCA territory, but on fourth down, after a time out, a bad snap again turned the ball over to the Jets.

It looked like the Forest Park defense was going to get the ball back for the offense, but then came the guttsiest call of the night. On fourth down inside their own 30 yard-line, the Jets pulled off a fake punt, with Kleiman doing the tightrope along the sidelines for a huge first down.

Several plays later, Whitens took it to the house from 22 yards out, and he also ran in the two-point conversion. That gave North Central a 60-44 lead late in the game.

A desperation pass to Roy Hagglund set the Trojans up inside the five yeard-line, and they scored with 1:32 left in the game. But they couldn't make the two-point conversion this time, and when the Jets got the ball back, they ran out the clock.

North Central will host Pickford in the state semifinals next Friday night, after the Panthers upset previously-undefeated Engadine, 30-28, Friday. Next week's game will be broadcast live on WUPF-FM (Eagle 107.3) and on www.radioresultsnetwork.com.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and video highlights taken during Friday night's game.