Neuqua stuns SCE in 4 OTs

NAPERVILLE -- Wes Allen ran for 241 yards and six touchdowns on 37 carries, but St. Charles East dropped its first Upstate Eight Conference game of the season Friday night, losing 49-42 in a four-overtime thriller against Neuqua Valley.

With a 21-7 advantage at halftime and Allen outgaining the Wildcats 163-126, the Saints look poised to beat Neuqua, but the Wildcats' offense came alive in the second half, as Alex Lincoln threw for six touchdowns from then on.

"When you can't convert on third and shorts and don't score in the second half, you won't win games," said East coach Ted Monken. "You have to be able to move the ball and put up points in both halves to win. We self-destructed. We didn't block as well as we could have, and we didn't get the job done."

With fullback Kyle Weibe less than 100 percent, the Saints looked to Allen even more than usual. Although Allen now has 12 touchdowns and 526 yards in the last two weeks, back-to-back 1-yard runs put the Saints on their backs in the final overtime. After two consecutive incomplete passes, the Wildcats finally earned the win on homecoming.

"Allen always does a great job for us," said Monken. "He runs the ball hard and he earns every yard he gets. He runs his tail off and he'll get his share of yards."

Although it was the Saints' first conference loss of the season, Monken all but conceded the UEC title.

"(The loss) means Bartlett is going to win," said Monken. "No one is going to beat Bartlett. Our only hope was to go undefeated and share the conference title, because we don't play Bartlett. Bartlett's going to win out and we'll finish tied for second."