New Trier explodes for 45 points in emphatic Week 1 win over Naperville North 

The anticipation started building in July. By early August, the excitement had reached new heights. Then, on just the second play of New Trier’s season, the enthusiasm surrounding the team’s prized offseason addition turned into pure pandemonium.

Throy Nightingale Jr., New Trier’s new running back, showed what all the preseason hype was about the very first time he touched the ball Friday night. The Notre Dame transfer bulldozed a pair of Naperville North defenders and raced by the Huskies’ defense to score a 67-yard touchdown on his first carry as a Trevian.

Nightingale Jr.’s spirited sprint was only his first act. His second rush during the Trevs’ ensuing series finished with the same result: a touchdown, this time from 16 yards out. The senior’s standout debut — and two first-quarter touchdowns — ignited a dominant Week 1 New Trier performance.

The Trevians opened their 2026 campaign with a commanding 45-13 win over Naperville North on Friday, Aug. 21, in Northfield. Five different New Trier players scored in the victory, which was the program’s second-straight opening-night conquest over the Huskies.

“That first run, it set the tone for our season to be honest,” Nightingale Jr. said, noting that once he got by the Huskies’ corner back and got close to the sideline, his speed just took over.

New Trier head coach Brian Doll described Nightingale Jr.’s first carry as “an out-of-body experience,” saying it’s a moment the senior halfback will “be able to remember for a long time.”

“It was his first carry with our school and it turns into an electric run and the place absolutely goes nuts,” Doll said. “It’s what high school football is all about. I’m really happy for him and for his family and for our team. … He’s a great young man and we’re lucky to have him.”

Trevs blow by Huskies in second half

Nightingale Jr.’s 140 rushing yards on 12 attempts were a huge driver of New Trier’s success but the Trevs showcased throughout the evening, and particularly in the final two quarters, the wide array of offensive weapons at their disposal this season.

Naperville North kept the game within striking distance early and ultimately entered halftime trailing by a slim 16-7 margin. But New Trier’s talent on both sides of the ball took over from there, as the Trevs outscored the Huskies 29-6 the rest of the way.

New Trier opened the third quarter with an 11-play, 59-yard drive that ended with the Trevs’ star quarterback Jackie Ryder rushing in a 1-yard touchdown.

The Trevs went deep into their bag of tricks on the next series. On the opening play of the drive, Ryder tossed a pass to back-up quarterback Elliot Baxter, who then dropped a perfect pass throw into the hands of junior John Kropp for a 60-yard touchdown to put New Trier up 31-7.

After the Huskies found the endzone on their next drive, New Trier answered right back when Ryder and senior wide receiver John Baxter connected for a 44-yard touchdown. Elliot Baxter fired a 12-yard touchdown pass to Will Davenport for New Trier’s final score of the night.

Junior wide receiver Paul Liang also had a strong varsity debut as he hauled in several passes on crucial downs for the Trevs. Liang finished the night with a game-high eight receptions for 87 receiving yards.

New Trier’s defense had an equally impressive Week 1 showing. Naperville North scored on its second play of the game with a 79-yard touchdown pass — but, from there, the Trevs did not allow another score until late in the third quarter.

The Trevs’ generated two turnovers: An interception by Alex Fairchild and a fumble forced by Will Molloy and recovered by Declan O’Meara. New Trier also stopped the Huskies on multiple fourth-down attempts throughout the game.

“I’m very happy with the way our defense played,” said Molloy, who’s one of the Trevs’ senior captains. “I think we’re very well structured, we have a very balanced team, and everyone contributed tonight. Overall it’s just a great team effort and just shows all the hard work we did this summer.”

New Trier gets physical

New Trier’s physicality on both sides of the ball was apparent Friday night as the Trevs overpowered Naperville North in the trenches and wore down the Huskies over four quarters.

“I think we played physical tonight up front,” Doll said. “I thought we ran the ball physically and I thought we tackled physically. “That’s the type of program we want to be: we want to play physical football.”

In addition to the Trevs’ flexing their muscles, Doll — who described New Trier’s victory as a “little surreal” — was also inspired by the way New Trier competed all night.

“Our kids just competed at a really high level tonight and that’s one of our big three pillars: culture, compete and celebrate,” Doll said. “We had great culture this whole offseason, we competed like hell tonight and we’re celebrating right now. This is a good, opening Week 1 win for us and I’m just proud of them.”

Savoring Week 1 and looking ahead

After dropping three straight opening-night contests from 2022-24 (including one versus Naperville North), the Trevs are now 1-0 for the second consecutive season.

Starting off the year with a win is a feeling the group will cherish as it gets back to work next week.

“I think it’s great and we can all sleep well tonight and just get ready for next week because this win is not going to matter next week,” Nightingale Jr. said. “So we have to get on to next week and keep winning and have the same attitude that we came out here with today.”

New Trier will head out on the road next week for its first away game of 2026. The Trevs will take on Waubonsie Valley next Friday night, Aug. 28, in Aurora.

New Trier topped the Warriors 24-14 last season, but the Trevs know they’ll need to be on their game to keep up their winning ways.

“We have to be in the right mindset and be mentally prepared and not look past a team that’s going to be super excited,” Doll said, noting it will be the Warriors first home game with a new turf field. “It’s going to be an electric environment for them and their whole school is going to be jacked up. … We have to go down there and take care of business.”

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