Naperville Central holds off Fremd’s furious comeback attempt, led by Johnny O’Brien’s 464 passing yards

Naperville Central’s playoff dreams appeared to be slipping away. The Redhawks had a three-point lead in the final minutes, but visting Fremd and dynamic junior quarterback Johnny O’Brien were surging.

“We were fighting hard against the momentum; it was just crashing down on us,” Naperville Central coach Mike Ulreich said.

The Redhawks were not crushed. Their heavy offensive package ate up clock and yardage on the final drive to seal a 31-28 win against the Vikings in a Class 8A second-round playoff game.

“That was something you dream of just seeing the whole town behind you,” Naperville Central running back Aiden Clark said. “I was born here and I’ve been coming to games here forever. That out there tonight was another level. It seemed like another world out there for sure.”

Both teams featured exceptional quarterbacks, but Naperville Central (10-1) also had a running game to lean on. Specifically, Clark, who had 36 carries for 173 yards.

“[Clark] is amazing,” Redhawks quarterback Sebastian Hayes said. “He makes everything easier for me.”

Hayes was 19 for 26 for 196 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He connected with nine receivers. DeShaun Williams had nine catches for 92 yards and a TD.

Naperville Central led 24-0 at halftime. O’Brien threw three touchdown passes in the first six minutes of the third quarter to trim the Redhawks’ lead to 31-21.

Fremd’s defense shut out Naperville Central’s offense in the second half. The Redhawks’ only points came on a pick-six from senior Gavin Wade.

“I watched them throw that all week and I knew it was going to happen,” Wade said. “[O’Brien] threw it right to me. I just caught it and ran. Usually, I get caught from behind.”

O’Brien connected with Marquan Brewster on a 15-yard TD with 4:41 left in the game to cut the Redhawks’ lead to 31-28. But Clark and Naperville Central’s offense saw the game out from there.

“We turned the ball over three times,” Ulreich said. “And [O’Brien] is really good and he was going to make some plays. But I’m proud of the guys for stepping and seeing it through at the end.”

O’Brien was 34 for 49 for 464 yards with four TDs and two interceptions.

Fremd (9-2) had -9 total rushing yards.

“[O’Brien] had an awesome game,” Hayes said. “Our defensive line is pretty darn good so for him to roll out and make those 30, 40-yard throws down the field was really amazing. He’s a stud.”

Brewster had 10 catches for 143 yards and three TDs. Saxe caught 10 passes for 159 yards and a TD.

“I just have to give all the credit to the defense for shutting them down in the second half and giving us a chance,” O’Brien said. “It was a brotherhood we created this season. We showed our heart and I’m proud of my teammates for that.”

Naperville Central is at Lyons in the quarterfinals next weekend.