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BELVIDERE, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — The Belvidere North Blue Thunder are at their best when they’re facing adversity. They demonstrated that Friday night in the IHSA Class 5A second-round playoff game. They rallied from behind to defeat the Kaneland Knights 30-25.
Belvidere North managed only a 31-yard field goal by Jovanni Pina in the first half. They trailed at halftime 10-3. The deficit grew to 17-3 on the first play from scrimmage of the third quarter. That’s when Kaneland quarterback Jalen Carter took off on a long touchdown run.
But you can’t ever count out this Blue Thunder team with its many weapons, and with its one-two punch of seniors Ben Bucher and Erick Roman. Bucher ripped off a 55-yard touchdown run. Then on North’s next possession Roman ripped off a long touchdown run. Suddenly the game was tied.
The Blue Thunder took the lead at 8:34 of the fourth quarter when Zavian McElroy scored on a short touchdown run. North later tacked on another Pina field goal to lead 24-17.
But Kaneland marched downfield ultimately scoring on a short ‘Tush Push’ play that saw Carter cross the goal line. That made it 24-23. Kaneland then went for a two-point conversion and got it on a pass play. Suddenly North was trailing again 25-24 with only 3:40 to play in the game.
Kaneland then tried a short, bounding kickoff that was recovered by the Blue Thunder near midfield. North picked up a couple first downs. Then North quarterback Andrew Bucci took off with the ball, and he had a huge hole open up that allowed him to go 32 yards for what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown.
Belvidere North improves its record to 11-0. That’s a school record for wins in a season. The Blue Thunder will next face the winner of Saturday’s 5A game between Chicago St. Patrick (6-4) and Cary Grove (8-2).
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