[quote]By Drew Danko
Online Editor
Photo courtesy of MV Yearbook (Madison Mohns)
Gallery by Drew Danko and Alexis Rizzi[/quote]

After a thrilling fourth quarter comeback, the BG Stampede ran to the gates at Mustang Stadium and awaited the opportunity to storm the field to congratulate the football team on a 29-28 win over Naperville North, its first win in the DuPage Valley Conference.

With 1:46 left in the game, senior quarterback Conner Lovely and receivers Jack Feeley, Ben Loutsis, and Brad Fekety worked together to complete the final drive and score of the game. After a 26-yard pass to Feeley and two consecutive 14-yard pass completions to Loutsis, the Mustangs found themselves on the five-yard line after a Huskie pass interference. With 51.3 seconds left in the game, Lovely found Fekety behind the goal line for a go-ahead touchdown, and Lovely kicked the extra point to put the Mustangs in the lead, 29-28.

“I didn’t get the ball much the first three quarters. I tried to stay focused, and took advantage when my chance came to help my team. Being a part of that last drive felt great,” junior Loutsis said.

Students cheered by the gates as the Mustang defense stopped the Huskies on their final attempt of the game, and stormed the field after North’s missed 46-yard field goal attempt. After students huddled with the team, head varsity coach Ben Kleinhans thanked the fans their continued support. “We need this (fan support), no matter where we are. You have been the best Mustang Nation yet,” Kleinhans said.

In the second quarter, the Mustangs were down 14-0 when senior Amiri Finner returned a Huskie kickoff 91 yards to put the Mustangs on the board for the first time in the game. Finner helped again when he scored on the two-point conversion from a pass by Lovely, a crucial extra point that would later become the difference between a win and tie in the end of the game.

“The defense stepped up the entire game; They had a couple red zone stops. The offense started slow, we were stalling in the red zone, which is something that we need to work on,” Lovely said.

After a slower third quarter, the Mustangs surged in the fourth quarter to win the game. An 80-yard touchdown pass to Feeley brought the Mustangs within a touchdown of the Huskies, 21-15. Two possessions later, Lovely completed another long 50-yard pass to senior Jordan Cagigal for another touchdown to keep the Mustangs within one score, Huskies now up 28-22.

“It felt awesome getting my first varsity touchdown pass since I didn’t have any last season. I think Feeley and I’s catches were big momentum shifts for the game,” Cagigal said.

This is the first time the Mustangs have ever defeated a Naperville area, District 203 or 204, team at the varsity level. This win proves the program’s growth and its winning potential in the hotbed that is the DuPage Valley Conference. “This win felt great, it was one of my best high school memories because the fans rushed the field and we got to celebrate the win with the whole school,” Cagigal added.

For fans, especially seniors, this was an unforgettable game and high school memory. “(The win) was amazing. You could feel the energy, and it made the school feel united as one. This is definitely one of the top memories I’ll take away from Metea,” senior Lauryn Freedlund said.

The Mustangs face off with Naperville Central (2-0, 2-0) next week at Naperville Central. “We’ll need to capitalize on plays when we get the momentum and keep that momentum for next week,” Lovely added.