Not wind, not rain, not dark of night could slow down Naperville Central junior running back Aiden Clark on Friday night.

So what chance did Downers Grove South have?

None.

“Last week we really struggled running the football, and we wanted to come out this week and show that we can pound the football, just like we did in weeks prior,” Clark said.

“Against Naperville North and Metea and DeKalb, we really pounded the football. We didn’t want to go away from that. I know we’ve got weapons throwing the ball, but running the ball, especially on a windy, rainy night like tonight, is the way to go.”

Clark showed why, busting loose for a career-high 244 yards on 26 carries. He scored a career-best four touchdowns, including runs of 63 yards and 69 yards in the second quarter, to lead the host Redhawks to a 31-22 victory in a Class 8A playoff opener at Memorial Stadium in Naperville.

Naperville Central (8-2), which is seeded 14th, will travel to third-seeded Barrington (10-0) for a second-round game on Nov. 4.

“Aiden Clark is just basically a dog,” Naperville Central senior quarterback Jack Cook said. “I get a little jealous when he gets to run the ball all the time, but a win is a win. And whatever we’ve got to do, I know Clark is going to get it done and get that win for us.”

With the temperature dropping, rising winds and steady rain in the early going, it soon became apparent the quarterbacks would have a difficult time moving the ball through the air. Cook completed just two passes in the first half and finished with nine attempts for 75 yards.

“It was a really tough night to throw, especially with the weather,” Cook said. “But Clark got it done, and the O-line helped out especially.”

Indeed, Naperville Central’s offensive line — Virginia-bound senior left tackle Grant Ellinger, junior left guard Will Erbeck, junior center Connor Sands, senior right guard Liam O’Donnell and junior right tackle Danny Conway — helped gash a Downers Grove South defense that had been playing well.

The 19th-seeded Mustangs (6-4) had allowed 13 points per game during their six-game winning streak. The Redhawks gained just 58 yards and had two first downs in the scoreless first quarter.

But Cook completed a 14-yard pass to senior receiver Logan Devick on third-and-13 early in the second quarter. Clark followed with his 63-yard run in which he absorbed a hard hit 5 yards downfield and then broke away.

Clark cut loose again on Naperville Central’s next possession. This time he went untouched 69 yards up the left sideline to give the Redhawks a 14-0 lead.

Naperville Sun

Twice-weekly

News updates from the Naperville area delivered every Monday and Wednesday

“We had a pulling guard and a pulling tackle on that play,” Clark said. “Our tackle was free about 10 yards downfield, then I just split the gap, and it was a great play.

“It’s something we’ve worked on in practice all week and really all year. It’s great to see it come to fruition.”

The Mustangs didn’t make it easy on Clark. Nineteen of his carries went for 5 yards or less. But the Redhawks stayed committed to the ground game.

Downers Grove South twice cut the lead to one score, and the Redhawks always had an answer. Clark’s third touchdown run, a 2-yarder in the third quarter, built the lead back to 21-7, and his fourth TD, a 20-yard scamper in the fourth quarter, made it 31-14.

“He’s a really tough kid,” Naperville Central coach Mike Ulreich said. “He’s patient, hits the hole well, and then he’s got the ability to break big runs, and that was huge for us.

“Our line did a really good job and got great feedback, too, from Aiden. There were a lot of times where they got some stops early against Aiden, and he was like, ‘It’s there, I just missed it,’ or ‘I was there a little early.’ So we felt good with our game plan and the way our kids executed it.”

Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.