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Sledd brings Highland Park to brink of CSL title
Glenbrook North's #10 Chad Bruce bobbles the ball while staying ahead of Highland Park's #4 Ross Chukerman during their game at Highland Park HS Friday evening 10-14-11. | Kevin Tanaka~for Sun-Times Media
A pair of banners honoring Highland Park’s most recent Central Suburan North titles are just around the corner from its locker room.
The Giants have a chance to hang another banner thanks to a bevy of contributers during a 14-7 win over visiting Glenbrook North on Friday night.
After hurting his left ankle last week, Andrew Sledd carried the ball 37 times for 205 yards and a touchdown, and his final 14 rushes helped run about eight minutes off the clock in the fourth quarter.
Highland Park, however, went to the air to take the lead with Max Mordini completing three passes. Gordy Kelch capped the drive with a nine-yard reception with 11:55 remaining.
Ariel Small and Jason Goldsmith made key sacks in the final period, and John Bricker had a pair of interceptions earlier in the game, including one in the end zone in the second quarter.
The Giants also benefited from an offensive pass interference call that erased a potential tying touchdown in the final three minutes.
“It was really a team effort,” Sledd said. “It was a really, close intense game, and both (offense and defense) contributed.”
The win gives Highland Park (5-3, 4-0) a chance to win its fourth conference title in six seasons outright next week with a victory over visiting Deerfield.
Glenbrook North, meanwhile, falls short in its quest for a 10th playoff berth in 13 seasons, and injuries were one of the culprits. With top runningback Grant Rushing and backup Kyle Chin out, the Spartans (3-5, 2-2) went to the spread, and quarterback Curt Petty accounted for 285 of his team’s 288 yards (216 passing, 69 rushing).
After Sledd’s leaping 3-yard TD in the first quarter, Petty tied the game 59 seconds before the half when he completed a 12-yard pass to Trevor Ponticelli (11 catches, 143 yards).
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