A 56-yard touchdown pass with 30 seconds left sank Glenbard North on Friday, Oct. 9, as St. Charles North rallied for a 33-32 DuKane Conference win in Carol Stream.

The Panthers held a lead deep into the fourth quarter before the North Stars connected on the long scoring strike to steal the game. It was the second gut-wrenching conference loss of the season for head coach Justin Kerwin's squad, which fell 22-21 in overtime to St. Charles East on Sept. 11.

St. Charles North improved to 4-4 overall and 2-4 in DuKane Conference play with the comeback victory, first reported by Shaw Local's Kevin Newberry. The North Stars will host Lake Park in Week 9 to close the regular season.

The Panthers scored 32 points but could not protect the lead. Quarterback Logan Kramer has been the signal-caller for Glenbard North this season, though no individual statistics from Friday's game were released.

Glenbard South falls at West Aurora

Across the area, Glenbard South dropped a 23-12 nonconference road loss to West Aurora (5-3) in Aurora on Friday.

The Raiders entered the game at 5-2 overall and 4-1 in Upstate Eight East Conference play after quarterback Tommy Bauman threw five touchdown passes in a 41-0 rout of Elmwood Park on Oct. 2. The West Aurora defense held Bauman and the Glen Ellyn school's offense to just 12 points.

The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for coach Ryan Crissey's Raiders, who had beaten Fenton 43-20 in Week 6 and Elmwood Park in Week 7.

Week 9 and the playoff field

Both results carry weight heading into the final week of the regular season. The IHSA expanded its football playoff field to 384 teams this year, with 48 per class. The top 16 seeds in each class receive first-round byes.

Shaw Local's Steve Soucie projected before Week 8 that all teams with three or more wins were a virtual lock for the postseason. Both Glenbard squads clear that threshold.

St. Charles North hosts Lake Park in Week 9. West Aurora finishes its regular season at Aurora East.