Glenbard North lost 22-21 in overtime to St. Charles East after a penalty on what would have been a game-ending sack gave the Saints new life Saturday, Sept. 12, at Norris Stadium.

Senior tailback Johnny Solano punched in a three-yard touchdown run and then powered through the middle for the game-winning two-point conversion to lift the Saints past the Panthers in a DuKane Conference showdown.

The loss dropped Glenbard North to 2-2 overall and 0-2 in conference play. St. Charles East improved to 3-1 and 1-1 in the DuKane.

It was the Panthers' 15th penalty of the game. Jorge Banuelos had sacked the Saints' quarterback on fourth down, which appeared to seal the win. The defensive holding call wiped it out and extended the drive.

Panthers scored first in overtime

Glenbard North had seized the lead in the extra session. Junior quarterback Logan Kramer connected with sophomore receiver Pierre Portis on a six-yard touchdown pass, and Anthony Gibson's extra-point kick made it 21-14.

St. Charles East answered.

Solano's touchdown run pulled the Saints within a point. Then an offside penalty on the Panthers during the extra-point kick gave Saints coach Nolan Possley a choice: tie or win. He went for two.

"No doubt, we were going for two after the penalty," Solano told the Daily Herald after the game. "Give me or (teammate Rowan Slovick) the rock and we're pounding it in no matter what."

Solano did exactly that, powering through the middle for the conversion and the victory.

Turnovers haunted the Panthers early

St. Charles East turned two Glenbard North first-half turnovers into touchdowns. Linebacker Luciano Lito jarred the ball loose from Panthers tailback Angelo Gatses, and senior defensive back Christian Hirniak recovered at the Saints' 39-yard line.

A personal foul penalty against the Panthers helped extend the drive, which ended with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Cruz Herrera to Hirniak.

Senior defensive back Luka Sarich then intercepted a pass and returned it to the Glenbard North 27. Five plays later, Rowan Slovick ran untouched into the end zone from the 3, giving St. Charles East a 14-7 halftime lead.

Gatses held in check

Gatses entered the game with 466 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the season, according to a Shaw Local preview. He managed just 70 yards on 18 carries against a Saints defense anchored by defensive lineman Dane Meyer and linebackers Bryan Jordan, Logan Denk and Lito. Solano led St. Charles East with 78 rushing yards.

The Chicago Tribune's Week 4 area rankings vaulted St. Charles East to No. 7 after the win. The Saints had been unranked.

Glenbard North hosts Wheaton-Warrenville South on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. in its next DuKane Conference game.