Niles North's Turner too much for Warriors

Niles North's Terry Turner tries to break through the Maine West defense during the Vikings' 48-20 homecoming victory Friday night. The standout running back finished with 300 yards rushing and a total of five touchdowns.
(Jason Brown/Staff Photographer)

October 16, 2008 By CHUCK FIELDMAN cfieldman@pioneerlocal.com

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Maine West had a little too much Terry Turner when the Warriors visited Niles North in hopes of ruining the Vikings' homecoming game Friday night.

The 5-foot-10-inch, 170-pound speedster rushed 25 times for 300 yards in leading Niles North (3-4, 1-2) to a 48-20 victory over West (2-5, 1-2). Among Turner's rushing yards from scrimmage were touchdowns of 50, 58, 78 and 15 yards. The senior also returned a kickoff 75 yards for a TD in the opening quarter.

"Turner's an outstanding back," said Maine West head coach Chris Hare. "We knew coming into the game he was very good, and so far, he's the best back in the conference."

For Turner, who had 401 rushing yards against Niles West in a game earlier this season, being a marked man by opposing defenses only keeps him more focused.

"I know teams are going to focus on trying to shut me down," Turner said. "I just want to do whatever I can to help our team. I'll run the ball, be a decoy ... whatever, as long as I can help us win."

Even with Turner's impressive performance, it took a strong second-half effort by the Niles North defense to secure the win. Neither team's defense had much success slowing down the opposing offense in the first half, which ended in a 20-20 deadlock.

Niles North recovered an onside kick at midfield to start the game. On the first play from scrimmage, Turner twice broke tackles and raced 50 yards for a score and a 7-0 lead after Kosta Minchev added the point-after kick.

Maine West answered with 3 minutes, 44 seconds remaining in the opening period on a 35-yard touchdown run by quarterback Frank Hess. But the point-after attempt was no good, leaving the Vikings with a 7-6 advantage.

The Vikings' lead quickly grew to 14-6 when Turner bobbled the ensuing kickoff, picked it up and ran 75 yards for a score. Minchev again added the point-after.

Niles North again tried an onside kick, but Maine West recovered on its own 45-yard line. The Warriors needed only three plays and a two-point conversion with 2:42 left in the first quarter to forge a 14-14 tie. Calvin Williams scored on a 7-yard run, set up on a 36-yard scamper by Hess.

A 20-yard field goal by Minchev gave Niles North a 17-14 advantage with 10:29 to play in the first half. Maine West managed its only lead of the game at 20-14 on an 11-yard TD run by Hess. The point-after was no good.

A 41-yard field goal by Minchev on the final play of the first half created the 20-20 tie.

Turner's 58-yard touchdown run on Niles North's first possession of the second half gave the Vikings the lead for good. Another third-quarter score came on a 7-yard pass from Michael Granato to Sunii Rehmani. Touchdown runs of 78 and 15 yards by Turner accounted for the fourth-quarter scoring.

"We gave up some big plays," Hare said. "We were able to do some things, offensively, in the first half, but once we got down in the second half we just couldn't put points on the board. (Niles North) seemed to want it more in the second half."