Belvidere North sprints its way past Harlem and to undefeated NIC

It was Belvidere North's time.

And the Blue Thunder made sure of it on Friday night, securing the NIC-10 title in dominant fashion, blowing out Harlem 42-14. It's North's third NIC-10 title, joining the 2014 and 2024 performances. But this is the first outright, and undefeated, conference title. More Week 9 football: Rockford Jefferson becomes playoff eligible for 1st time since '93 - now will they get in?

"It just feels great," said halfback Ben Bucher, whose 95-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter iced it away. "We executed great today. I'm just proud of all my teammates."

Harlem's star sophomore quarterback Braxton Fausett completed 9 of 13 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown, but once the Huskies were stuffed on downs at the Blue Thunder 5-yard-line late in t