Bibbs Scores Four as North Rolls Past Central

The football matchup between Plainfield North and Plainfield Central high schools is always an emotional one. When the District 202 rivals squared off Friday night at Central in Southwest Prairie Conference action, North running back Kapri Bibbs channeled his emotions into a memorable performance.

Bibbs rushed for 307 yards and four touchdowns on 40 carries and Plainfield North scored a pair of TDs during a 30-second span in the first quarter on the way to a 33-14 victory.

After losing the first four meetings of the two teams, the Tigers have won the last two in the series.

"Anytime you can start like that, it's a plus," Plainfield North coach Tim Kane said. "For us to start out the way we did at their place was big for us."

Bibbs, the dynamic 5-foot-11 senior who has committed to Colorado State University, has rushed for 903 yards and 14 touchdowns in three games after sitting out North's first game because of insufficient practice time.

"They were ready to go and we were ready to go," Bibbs said. "The best thing to do is get the momentum early. Once we got the momentum early, that slowed them down a little bit."

After gaining a 27-7 lead early in the third quarter, Plainfield North (3-1 overall, 2-0 in conference) slowed the game to a crawl. Of the 60 plays the Tigers ran, 40 of them were called for Bibbs.

"We're clicking on all cylinders and that's what you have to have to have a good team," Bibbs said.

"We were a little tight the first quarter-and-a-half," Planfield Central coach John Jackson said. "I think we were focused and playing hard. But these guys want to do so well, they get tight. They don't have fun and let their natural talents show."

After Bibbs' first touchdown run of 15 yards, Plainfield North's defense came to the forefront.

Senior defensive back Nick Lobraco scooped up a fumble and returned it 11 yards for a score to give the visitors a 13-0 lead with 8:26 left in the first quarter.

Another 15-yard scoring scamper by Bibbs in the second quarter gave Plainfield North a 19-0 lead.

Plainfield Central (0-4, 0-2) got on the board when junior quarterback Tim Blake threw a 68-yard touchdown pass to senior Dominique Miller with 4:17 left in the first half. It was the first of two long touchdown passes thrown by Blake, who was 16-of-26 passes for 328 yards.

Blake's 66-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter was sandwiched between scoring runs of 26 and 35 yards by Bibbs. Plainfield North led 33-14 after three quarters.