St. Charles North pulled off the comeback of the season in September against Batavia. It turns out the North Stars didn’t use up all their magic that night.
St. Charles North and visiting Carmel both struggled with cold and wind and rain on Saturday. It made offense difficult. Passing was limited and running backs had a tough time holding on to the ball.
Carmel star quarterback Trae Taylor had the game in on the final play. It was fourth and ten from the North Stars’ 36-yard line with the Corsairs trailing by three.
Taylor’s ability to evade defenders and lengthen plays is next level. The junior Nebraska recruit is athletic, elusive and creative. Taylor created space, but he had to twirl and run nearly 30 yards backwards. St. Charles North just kept coming at him.
Taylor managed to complete a pass, but it went for negative yardage, and the North Stars held on for a 26-23 win in the second round of the Class 7A playoffs.
“He’s a phenomenal player,” North Stars linebacker Aidan McClure said. “We knew he was going to be tough and he even exceeded my expectations. He’s so elusive. We just tried to make him uncomfortable.”
Taylor was 8-for-18 for 156 yards with one interception. He threw a 65-yard touchdown pass to Kai Owens with 5:32 left that kept the Corsairs (8-2) in the game.
“With a quarterback like [Taylor] the weather definitely played in the defense’s favor,” McClure said. “We knew it was going to be a defensive battle. We just tried to take away his safety blankets. We know he likes to get the ball out quick.”
St. Charles North doesn’t have a star at Taylor’s level, but it has 41 seniors and a special kicker in Lucas Tenbrook. The Iowa State recruit kicked 44 and 39-yard field goals in the harsh conditions.
“He’s such a weapon,” North Stars coach Rob Pomazak said. “r. Lucas has grown the most out of anybody the past two years. The sky is the limit for him. I truly believe he is an NFL football player if he stays on this track.”
Carmel’s rushing attack dominated the game. Sophomore Jacquel Edmonds had 21 carries for 138 yards and a TD. Sophomore Jordan Moore finished with 13 carries for 114 yards and Taylor had 16 carries for 87 yards and a TD.
But the Corsairs had two costly fumbles, both recovered by St. Charles North.
“It’s football weather,” Carmel coach Jason McKie said. “You have to perform in the elements. They played in it. You can’t keep stubbing your toe and expect it not to hurt. That’s going to catch up to you and eventually it did.”
Carmel led 10-0 and 16-7. Tenbrook’s field goals cut the deficit to 16-13. Then with 10:57 left St. Charles North quarterback JT Padron lofted a pass to Carson Durante, who went 20 yards for a TD to put the North Stars head for good at 20-16.
St. Charles North running back Tommy Vendel scored on a 28-yard run with 5:43 to make it 26-16.
“This was pure excitement,” Vendel said. “Your hands are ice-cold, and you can’t feel a thing. But your heart is pumping so hard.”
Padron was 3-for-17 for 61 yards with two TDs. Durante had 14 carries for 69 yards, and Vendel had five carries for 68 yards.
“This is a family,” McClure said. “We love each other and won’t let each other down. We will do anything for the guy next to us.”
St. Charles North will play at Brother Rice in the quarterfinals next weekend.