Lackner's hit sparks Huskies

Naperville North's Bryan Bailin (42) tackles Homewood-Flossmoor's Aaron Phillips.
(Ary Vassy / Daily Southtown)

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With the game scoreless, Naperville North senior Kyle Lackner was ready to make a big play Friday night.

That’s exactly what he did on the opening kickoff of the second half in the visiting Huskies’ 20-8 win over Homewood-Flossmoor in a Class 8A semifinal.

Lackner’s big hit on Homewood-Flossmoor’s Mark Franklin jarred the ball loose, and Naperville North’s Bryan Bailin was there to recover the fumble at the H-F 19.

Moments later, Tyrone Saunders scored to give the Huskies the lead for good en route to a victory that sent them to the championship game for the first time since 1994.

‘‘[Naperville North senior] Sean [Brutto] and I were all fired up on the kickoff,’’ Lackner said. ‘‘We said at half that we needed to step up, and that kickoff play sparked us.

‘‘I actually didn’t think it was that good of a hit. I didn’t wrap up that well, and I didn’t know he fumbled until I heard everyone cheering.’’

Lackner starts at linebacker for the Huskies. He also had a sack on H-F quarterback Russell Ellington on the first play of the fourth quarter which led to good field position that resulted in the Huskies’ final touchdown.

‘‘Everyone talks about our offense, but we wanted to send a message that we’re the best defense out there,’’ Lackner said.

Only a late H-F touchdown run by Ellington kept the Huskies from registering their fifth shutout of the season. In 13 games, Naperville North has allowed more than 14 points on only one occasion, a 42-41 triple-overtime loss to Wheaton Warrenville South.

Also starring for the Naperville North defense were linebacker Andre Crawford, linemen Sean Denard and Tim Weidenbacher and defensive back Danny Hess, who had two interceptions to bring his total to four in the postseason.