By Paul D. Bowker
MaxPreps.com
Nick Mlady, a senior running back a defending Class 8A state champion Naperville North, hadn’t even gotten to the team bus following a 27-7 win at Wheaton North last weekend when conversation of THE GAME quickly produced some bubbling emotions.
North has lost just once in the last two seasons.
It came last October, at Wheaton Warrenville South. One-point game, three overtimes, league title on the line.
Friday night, Wheaton Warrenville South (8-0, 6-0 DVC), ranked 20th nationally by MaxPreps.com, will arrive at Naperville North (8-0, 6-0) to play it all over again. The story line is incredible: Both teams are unbeaten. The DuPage Valley championship is at stake. WW South is ranked No. 1 in Illinois by MaxPreps and Naperville North is No. 4. And, clearly, memories of 2007 are still bouncing around the western suburbs of Chicago.
What makes this even more amazing for Naperville North is that the Huskies weren’t even expected to be in this position, not after losing 18 seniors to graduation from a 13-1 team that pasted Glenbard North 46-19 in the state championship game last year.
“Last year was obviously a great year. All the guys on the team were great. What kind of made the team this year is last year everyone was just so good, they just made everyone this year so much better practicing with them, whether you were on scout team or whatever,” Mlady said. “Practicing against great guys makes great guys.”
This game, THE GAME, has been on the Huskies’ minds for a very long time.
“That’s been the game that’s been circled all season,” said Mlady, who has run for more than 1,000 yards in two consecutive seasons and has an offer from the Naval Academy waiting. “That’s the one that we’re aiming for. Our only loss last year. We want to come back and stick to ‘em.”
Now that’s a rivalry. But this game is even more than a few bragging words at the dinner table. This rivalry is churning out champions. When a league championship hangs in the balance of the final regular-season game of the year, with both teams unbeaten, well, what better scenario is there? Certainly, the stands will be packed in perhaps the biggest game of the season this year in Chicago’s burbs.
“Everybody’s been talking about it,” said Danny Sagen, a senior defensive back for Naperville North. “It’s a dream come true. It’s the DVC championship, we’re both undefeated, it’s our senior night, last game in our stadium.
“There are a million and one things you can get really pumped up about. It’s going to be great.”
Naperville North is the only team in DuPage Valley to top 300 points this season, with 310. The Huskies have topped 40 points four times this season, and won by 42 points twice, but also have played teams with winning records only two times.
WW South has topped 40 points five times, and the Tigers have really been on a tear in recent games. They have won their last four games by an average of 38 points. South’s only blemish the last two seasons was a 7-3 loss to Lake Zurich in the Class 7A title game last year.
Beyond a perfect season, WW South has plenty to play for Friday night. The Tigers are going for an unprecedented fourth consecutive DuPage Valley title. They haven’t lost a league game since 2004, running up a regular-season winning streak of 35 games.
Coaching in Dad’s Memory
The father of Naperville North defensive coordinator Sean Drendel died last week, leaving Drendel to coach with heavy heart just 24 hours after his dad’s death. Drendel coached, he said, because his dad would have wanted it that way.
“This is where I would see my dad, right now,” Drendel said after the Huskies’ 27-7 win over Wheaton North. “When the game ended, I looked for him. But he wasn’t there. And I knew he wasn’t, but … that’s what made it so tough.
“He would have been very upset with me if I didn’t coach. I’m glad I did.”
Gene Drendel taught in Naperville for more than 30 years and attended every football game. A visitation was held last Sunday in the school’s gymnasium.
Said Nick Mlady, Naperville North running back: “Losing a Huskie is never a good thing. It was kind of down, but we just tried to focus in, lock in, and play our game.”
Finally, a Home Game
Mount Carmel High School has existed since 1924 in the Hyde Park section of Chicago, but the Caravan has never played a home football game on its campus. Instead, the Caravan plays its home games at Gately Stadium, home of the city’s Public League games.
That all ends Friday, when Mount Carmel (6-2, 2-2 Catholic League Blue) plays host to Hales Franciscan (1-7, 1-3 Catholic League Green) at Carey Field. Bring a lawn chair. Carey Field has an artificial turf and it is where the Caravan practices, but there are no bleachers. Instead, fans will give the place a real old-time feel by surrounding the field with lawn chairs and blankets. Fans are being asked to bring canned goods that will be donated to the Amate House food pantry.
“It’s going to be neat walking out of the school to play on our own field instead of boarding a bus,” said Mike Daigler, an assistant coach.
The school’s 1998 and 1988 state championship teams will also be honored at the game.
Stats and Such
Maine South QB Charlie Goro, a Vanderbilt recruit who has led the Hawks to eight consecutive wins, hit his highest note yet last week: he completed 27-of-42 passes for a school-record 469 yards. Maine South (8-0, 4-0 Central Suburban South) ends its regular season Friday against Niles West (3-5, 2-2).
St. Rita’s Dan Dispensa returned an interception 70 yards, setting up the go-ahead winning touchdown and an eventual 14-10 win over Brother Rice. With that victory, St. Rita (7-1, 3-1) won the Catholic League Blue championship.
Bolingbrook RB John Seigler rushed for 167 yards and two touchdowns in a 33-7 win over Sandburg, a victory that clinched the SouthWest Suburban Blue championship for the Raiders (8-0, 4-0) for the second straight year.
Prospect QB Miles Osel completed 16-of-27 passes for 327 yards and one touchdown, and rushed 25 times for 115 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-28 win over Wheeling.
Huntley’s Tor Larkin kicked his first field goal, an 18-yarder in overtime to defeat Prairie Ridge, 31-28. It was Huntley’s eighth consecutive win.
Games to Watch
Wheaton Warrenville South (8-0, 6-0) at Naperville North (8-0, 6-0): This game is for the DuPage Valley championship and momentum into the postseason. WW South, ranked No. 20 nationally by MaxPreps, won last year’s battle, 42-41, in triple overtime.
Glenbard West (8-0, 5-0) at Hinsdale Central (7-1, 5-0): Winner is champion of the West Suburban Silver. Both teams are offensive powers; Glenbard West has topped 50 points three times this season and Hinsdale scored 53 on Hillsdale last week. Hinsdale’s only slip was a one-point loss to unbeaten Wheaton Warrensville South in Week 1.
Bolingbrook (8-0, 4-0 SouthWest Suburban Blue) at Lockport (4-4, 1-3): The Raiders look to finish off an unbeaten regular season.
Chicago Hope Academy (8-0) at St. Rita (7-1): Chicago Hope, an unbeaten independent, gets a shot at Catholic Blue champion St. Rita on Friday night. It will be a tall order. Hope has a total enrollment of 181, just a bit off the more than 2,500 enrolled at St. Rita, a Class 7A school.
Recruiting: Drummond Down to Illinois, Wisconsin
Morgan Park defensive end Craig Drummond, who chose not to play high school football this season so that he could protect an ankle injury, says he will announce his college decision Nov. 2, the day of his 18th birthday.
Drummond, 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, is rated among the nation’s top recruits at defensive end. Drummond told the Chicago Tribune he has narrowed his choices to Illinois and Wisconsin. This weekend, he will be in Madison, Wis., as the Badgers’ guest during the Wisconsin vs. Illinois game.
Volleyball: Payton, Young in Title Game
Defending Public League volleyball champion Walter Payton High School (31-1) defeated Von Steuben, 25-14, 25-19, on Wednesday to advance to the championship match against Whitney Young (20-10). The same two teams met in last year’s final. Courtney Cunningham, a Mississippi recruit, had seven kills and three blocks for Payton in its semifinal-round win.
Hersey (25-5) won the Mid-Suburban League championship Wednesday, defeating Conant, 25-16, 25-17. Shelley Mueller had 24 assists, and Katie Lill and Ann Carroll each had nine kills.
Golf: DiGrazia is Class A Medalist
GiGi DiGrazia of Driscoll, her school’s only entrant in the Class A girls’ golf finals because it doesn’t have a girls’ team, posted a two-day total of 147 to win the state title at Hickory Ridge Golf Course in Carbondale. DiGrazia is an Iowa recruit.
Joe Carlson, a junior, won medalist honors in the Class 3A boys’ championships at The Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington, leading St. Viator to its second consecutive state championship. Carlson finished with a 7-under 137 over two days. St. Viator’s team total of 583 tied a state record.
Paul Bowker covers the Chicago area for MaxPreps. He may be reached at bowkerpaul1@aol.com