by Roy Taylor, Sun Correspondent

Wheaton Warrenville South's offense, averaging more than 30 points per game in its first seven games, could only muster a field goal over the first 41 minutes of Friday's game at Glenbard North. The Tigers offense wasn't great most of the night against the strong Panthers defense, but it was great when it had to be.

The Tigers (7-1, 5-1 DuPage Valley Conference) took the final seven minutes of the game to drive 78 yards, where kicker Thomas Sarlina nailed the game-winning field goal to defeat Glenbard North 6-3.

Sarlina's winning kick was only the third field goal he had converted all season, but the seldom-used weapon said he was ready to help his team with the game on the line.

"My coach told me before the season that some game would come down to a field goal," Sarlina said. "This one did, I was ready for it, and it was awesome. “

"This team seems to score touchdowns almost every time they have the ball, so I'm not needed very often."

The Tigers almost didn't get a chance for Sarlina to display his heroics. At the beginning of the game-winning drive with the score tied 3-3, South was backed up at its own 15 and lined up to punt, potentially giving the ball back to Glenbard North with great field position with just four minutes left.

After launching the kick, punter Timothy Gerlesits was taken to the ground by a Glenbard North defender, and South received new life with a first down after a roughing-the-punter penalty.

South then engineered a methodical drive. The Tigers faced third-down situations three times and converted them all. On the first attempt — on third-and-4 from their 36 — quarterback Daniel Burns hit tight end Anthony Moeaki for an 11-yard gain on a crossing pattern.

A few plays later, on third-and-3 from the North 45, running back Dan Dierking took a pitch left and gained 10 yards.

Aside from the two field goals, the most important play of the evening for South happened as it faced a final third-and-9 from the North 34, one play after Burns had been sacked for a 5-yard loss.

From the shotgun, Burns stepped back and looked long, where he found Moeaki streaking wide open across the middle of the field. The tight end hauled in the pass at the Panthers 3, and two plays later Sarlina made the winning kick.

Prior to the final drive, South had only managed 79 yards of total offense. The previous week, the Tigers had racked up 370 yards against Wheaton North.

"Before the last drive, they knew what was coming with the run game, so we had to do something different," Burns said. "It did surprise us that they shut us down so well, but we had a good week of practice, and we knew we could do it eventually."

"On that last drive, we were so mad that we hadn't been able to move the ball, we took it personally and got it done," Moeaki said.

On his game-clinching reception, Moeaki said: "I faked outside and cut back over the middle. I think the secondary went to the outside, and Dan threw a great pass."

Both teams' defenses rose to the occasion for the game, evident in the fact that neither team converted a first down until six minutes into the opening quarter.

On the second play of their fourth possession, Burns hooked up with John Wolfe, who made a spectacular catch to gain 36 yards. That drive would eventually lead to Sarlina's first field goal.

On the following drive, North drove 43 yards to the Tigers 22. On first down, North quarterback Mike Geanto sailed a pass over the middle that was intercepted by South's Graham Corcoran.

The defensive back also had several key pass deflections and tackles during the game.

With the ball at their own 1, South could not advance and had to punt from deep in their end zone.

North (5-3, 3-3) regained possession at the South 36 and drove as far as the Tigers 4. On third and goal, South's defense stopped North for no gain, and the Panthers were forced to settle for a field goal to tie the game at halftime.

"We've lost some games like this during my tenure, where it comes down to a field goal," said Wheaton Warrenville South coach Ron Muhitch, who lost his voice leading a celebratory postgame cheer. "This was a total team effort, and I'm happy to have that kid (Sarlina) on my team.

"Hats off to our defense. They got a little embarrassed last week but they turned it around tonight. Glenbard North is a heck of a football team, and they can be dangerous. But if we can get our passing game going, we'll be dangerous, too."