Fourth-down stand secures New Trier’s first opening-night win in four seasons

What a difference one year can make.

Twelve months after the Naperville North Huskies started the season by pummeling New Trier on its home turf, the Trevians kicked off their 2025 campaign by flipping the script.

New Trier avenged its last season’s drubbing with a thrilling 20-14 victory over the Huskies on Friday, Aug. 29, in Naperville. The Trevians’ down-to-the-wire win was the program’s first Week 1 victory since the 2021 season.

“These last couple of years have been hard, and we needed to get off on the right foot,” New Trier head coach Brian Doll said. “We still have a lot of games to play, but I’m going to take a moment to just say this is a great way for us to start off the season.”

The Trevians defense came up with the crucial play in the game’s most-pivotal moment to secure the win.

On fourth down with about 2 minute to play, North had the ball inside New Trier’s red zone down by six. Trevs senior linebacker Aaron Pressman tackled scrambling Huskies quarterback Josiah Nothacker near the line of scrimmage to force a turnover on downs and essentially end the game.

New Trier’s fourth-down stand was the third time the defense stuffed the Huskies on the decisive down.

“It was just one of those moments where you know you’re running low and it’s just all heart at that point and just executing and finding a way,” Doll said. “I couldn’t be more proud of the way our defense finished the game.”

Game play

The strong play of the Trevians defense set the tone early as New Trier spoiled North’s plans for a fast start.

After the Huskies’ moved the ball past midfield on the opening series, junior Rick Miller batted down a pass on fourth down to force a turnover.

New Trier wasted no time with the ball, using six plays to move 64 yards and find the end zone. Junior running back Declan O’Meara raced 32 yards to paydirt to put New Trier out in front 7-0 late in the first quarter.

Naperville North evened the score with just under five minutes in the first half when Nothacker rushed in a 9-yard quarterback keeper to get the Huskies on the board.

New Trier found an answer before halftime via another score from O’Meara.

After a poor punt gave the Trevians excellent starting field position, junior quarterback Jackie Ryder tossed a screen pass to O’Meara, who sprinted to the end zone from 14 yards out to give New Trier a 14-7 lead at the half.

O’Meara accounted for 87 yards of total offense (74 rushing, 13 receiving) and two of the Trevians three touchdowns.

Naperville North found the big drive it needed early in the third quarter when it put together a 61-yard, 12-play scoring drive capped off by a 1-yard rushing touchdown that tied the score at 14.

But it was Ryder and the Trevians who had one more offensive strike in the tank.

Three plays after a 19-yard run by O’Meara put the Trevs inside Naperville territory, Ryder fired a 27-yard, third-and-long strike to senior wide receiver Keefer Baxter, who elevated over a Huskies’ defender to make the game-winning catch in the end zone.

“I read the corner and he kind of went out toward the wheel route, so I knew I had that shot down the middle and I could fit it between the safety,” Ryder said. “(Their defender) came in and hit me pretty hard but I had to make the throw and we got it.”

Ryder, who accounted for 92 yards of offense and two touchdowns, begins his varsity career under center with what he feels is a “statement” win for the program.

“This is a huge win for us,” Ryder said. “Last year, they kicked (our butts), 42-14, so just making a statement win like this is massive for this program and this is just going to help get the word out throughout the school that we’re back.”

Meaningful moment

The opening-night conquest is a return to what was once a long-standing hallmark for New Trier football under Doll’s leadership. The Trevians racked up Week 1 victories throughout the first eight seasons of Doll’s tenure but had since dropped three straight openers.

The Trevians believe that a Week 1 win is a key ingredient in securing a spot in the postseason — and it’s hard to argue with that thesis as New Trier has missed the playoffs each of the past three seasons.

Yet on the heels of a disappointing 2-7 finish in 2024, the team’s leaders are determined to make sure this year ends differently.

“Winning two games was tough last year but starting off with a win and on the right foot gets the whole school behind you and on our way to a playoff berth,” senior linebacker John Fitzgerald said.

New Trier will come home to Northfield next Friday, Sept. 5 to take on Waubonsie Valley, which dropped a 21-13 decision to Neuqua Valley in its opener.

The Trevs this week will continue to be “students of the game” and work on tackling, Doll said. But the head coach’s message to the team will first call for some enjoyment.

“I think the main message for me is that you should be proud of this win and next week we should be ready to come back to a community that’s ready for football to take off,” he said. “This just sets everything off for our school and for our kids the right way.”

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