Interception returns for touchdowns on back-to-back plays turned what was a close game into a runaway Friday night as host Wheaton Warrenville South rolled to a 45-14 win over Wheaton North at an overflowing Red Grange Field.

Filling in for injured starter Peter Jarrett, WWS junior running back Julian Banuelos had the game’s first touchdown, a 10-yard run, on the Tigers’ first drive.

But Wheaton North (4-3, 2-3 DuPage Valley Conference) answered with its best drive of the night, a 12-play, 80-yard march that consumed nearly six minutes. It was highlighted by a diving, one-handed, 31-yard catch made by Trey Martin and was ended by Justin Swider’s 6-yard run.

WWS (7-0, 5-0) got a big pass of its own on its ensuing drive, a 39-yard toss from Joe Furco to Greg McAndrew. Four plays later, on 4th-down-and-9, Furco took off untouched for a 25-yard run to make it 14-7 Tigers with 9:44 left in the first half.

It was still that margin with less than four minutes before halftime when Tiger linebacker Pat Dansdill snagged his team-high fifth interception of the season and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown and a 21-7 WWS lead.

On the Falcons’ next play from scrimmage, Swider was intercepted again, this time by Garrett Cook, who returned this one 21 yards.

Wheaton North was forced to punt on its next drive and it looked like the Tigers might have to go to a two-minute drill with the ball at their own 34 and 1:41 to go.

But on their fourth play, three-year starting fullback Mike Olp burst through the Falcon defense for a 51-yard touchdown.

The Tigers only had a Nick Immekus 39-yard field goal in the third quarter but consumed the clock as the Falcons could muster only one three-plays-and-punt drive.

With 9:46 left in the game, Banuelos nearly got his second touchdown in his first varsity start but fumbled the ball as he was trying to extend his arm across the goal line. Teammate Dan Hohenstein recovered it in the end zone for a WWS touchdown.

A five-yard run by Randal Ellison (11 carries, 33 yards) with 2:43 remaining in the game capped the Falcons’ ensuing drive and the scoring.

“It’s kind of how our season has been going where points come just like that,” WWS coach Ron Muhitch said. “This has been a tough, emotional week for the kids with the loss of Peter Jarrett (ACL), Mack (Tracey, broken wrist) and Kyle (Blouin, mono). The way they came out and responded tonight impressed me.”

Game breakdown
SCORE BY QUARTER    1    2    3    4
Wheaton North    7    0    0    7
Wheaton Warrenville South    7    28    3    7
1ST QUARTER: WWS Julian Banuelos 10-yard run (Nick Immekus kick), 7:19; WN Justin Swider 6-yard run (Steve Jones kick), 1:27.
2ND QUARTER: WWS Joe Furco 25-yard run (Immekus kick), 9:44; Pat Dansdill 40-yard interception return (Immekus kick), 3:20; Garrett Cook 21-yard interception return (Immekus kick), 3:11; Mike Olp 51-yard run (Immekus kick), 50.8.
3RD QUARTER: WWS Immekus 39-yard field goal, 4:27.
4TH QUARTER: WWS Dan Hohenstein fumble recovery in the end zone (Immekus kick), 9:46; WN Randal Ellison 5-yard run (Jones kick), 2:43.
RUSHING: WN Swider 7-41, TD; Ellison 11-33, TD; Mike Trumpy 13-23; Mekeal Wesley 1-3; Ivan Tamba 2-0; WWS M. Olp 5-79, TD; Banuelos 14-54, TD; Furco 6-16, TD; Steven Kmiotek 1-7; Tomias Davis 2-4; Riley O’Toole 1-2; Thomas Olp 1-1.
PASSING: WN Swider 10-18, 103 yards, 2 INT; WWS Furco 8-12, 106 yards; O’Toole 0-0, 0 yards.
RECEIVING: WN Trey Martin 3-45; Chris Bradley 4-33; Tamba 2-15; Ellison 1-10; WWS Greg McAndrew 3-66; Kmiotek 3-22; Orlando Ross 1-12; M. Olp 1-6.
DEFENSE: WN Jack DeAno tackle for no gain; Jack Quinn sack, tackle for 4-yard loss; DeMarcus Covington sack, tackle for 6-yard loss; Jon Fitzpatrick sack; WWS Jeff Roadman tackle for loss; Pat Dansdill interception for TD, tackle for no gain; Garrett Cook interception for TD; Shane Dierking tackle for 28-yard loss.