Wheeler loses Naspinski, topples River Forest

Updated: September 24, 2011 3:10PM

VALPARAISO — Wheeler is used to dominating its conference football opponents.

The Bearcats are not used to what happened early against visiting River Forest on Friday night.

Wheeler eventually righted things, defeating River Forest 29-8 in a game that was called with six minutes remaining because of lightning. But in the process, the Bearcats lost their star quarterback to a leg injury, possibly for the rest of the season.

Robert Hurd energized the Wheeler offense after a slow start, rushing for 259 yards and three touchdowns. Hurd subbed for injured Nick Naspinski at quarterback for long stretches of the game.

Naspinski — who had 13 touchdown passes and 13 touchdown runs in the first five weeks of the season — went out early with what Wheeler coach Dan Klimczak said is likely a broken ankle.

“It’s a shame,” Klimczak said. “Nick’s a tremendous athlete and a tremendous individual.”

Hurd’s 8-yard touchdown run in the third quarter put Wheeler ahead for good. He added touchdown runs of 1 and 38 yards in the second half for the Bearcats (6-0, 4-0 Greater South Shore Conference).

Though the second half was more characteristic of a Wheeler performance, the Bearcats trailed 8-6 at halftime. The game could not have started any more terribly for Wheeler.

River Forest recovered an onside kick, and struck a few plays later. Quarterback J.J. Pennington found Ramon Diaz over the middle for a 21-yard gain, and two plays later, the pair connected again for a 31-yard touchdown. John Flores ran in the two-point conversion to make it 8-0 Ingots.

The very next series was much worse for the hosts.

Naspinski was sacked on the Bearcats’ second play from scrimmage. The senior was carried to the sidelines. He left the field on crutches at the end of the first quarter.

Wheeler struggled to move the ball, but finally found the right formula late in the second quarter. Using the wildcat formation with Hurd in the shotgun proved effective. The senior back/receiver raced for a 57-yard gain to the 2. Matt Pappas ran it in from there on the next play. Pappas’ run failed on the two-point conversion.

Wheeler held River Forest (4-2, 3-1) to 88 total yards, shutting the Ingots down completely after the two big pass plays early.

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