By Stephen Spiewak
MaxPreps.com
The rematch that people around Illinois have been buzzing about for months is finally upon the city of Naperville, as Naperville North hosts Wheaton-Warrenville South in a battle for the DuPage Valley Conference championship Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
A standing room-only crowd is expected at Red Grange Field. Like last year, both teams enter the game undefeated.
“Last year, the stands were more than half-filled two hours before the sophomore game,” MaxPreps Illinois’ Territory Manager Frank Steele said. “And the game lived up to the hype.”
Living up to the hype is an understatement, as it was probably the game of the year in Illinois.
Wheaton-Warrenville South prevailed 42-41 in triple overtime. Tiger head coach Ron Muhitch made the gutsy call to go for two with the game's outcome on the line. Quarterback Eric Piatkowski followed his blocks and plowed into the end zone to give the Tigers the dramatic win.
“It was getting tiring, we had to do something,” Piatkowski told the Chicago Sun-Times. “I figured [head coach Ron Muhitch would] call it in the third overtime.”
While the Tigers preserved their flawless record with the win, they would eventually fall in the 7A state finals to a Lake Zurich squad that put on a defensive clinic, leaving Springfield with a state crown.
It would be the Naperville North Huskies that would not lose again after the game. They ran through the playoffs, defeating state powers Bolingbrook and Lincoln-Way East in the process before steamrolling Glenbard North 46-19 in the state final.
This fall, the Tigers, ranked 20th in the MaxPreps/National Guard National Rankings, once again have a great shot at capturing a 7A state title, while the Huskies are a serious title contender in Class 8A.
With playoff pairings set to be announced less than 24 hours after the game, the team that comes out on top will enter the postseason with as much momentum as any program in the state.
While his players might hear about the hype surrounding the game from family and friends, Naperville North head coach Larry McKeon will keep them focused on what they can control on the field come Friday.
“To be real truthful, we don’t talk much about the hype part,” McKeon said. “They watched last year’s game on tape. They don’t want it to happen again. It's a situation where we want to win a football game.”
McKeon also said he thought the game was most significant for the simple fact that it crowns the conference champion and that neither team’s season will end with a loss.
Nonetheless, anticipation for the game continues to grow.
“This year’s game as the same feeling as last year,” Steele said.
Wheaton-Warrenville South returns with a another potent offens, but it will be missing a key cog. Senior running back Peter Jarrett tore his right ACL in practice several weeks ago and will be out for the rest of the season.
In his absence, the Tigers have turned to junior Julian Banuelos, who has filled in admirably. He will have to play well in order for Wheaton-Warrenville South to win.
Muhitch is probably less concerned with his own running game than with the Huskies ground attack, as his defense will have its hands full stopping the trio of Pat Waite, Nick Mlady and Jack Roberts.
The Huskies will use all three backs in their double-wing offense. Each brings something a little different to the table. Roberts is the power runner, while Waite is more of a finesse back. Mlady is a blend of the two as his speed, plus his 212-pound frame, can present major issues to opposing defenses.
Quarterback Matt Manade can also do damage on the ground.
Which team prevails on Friday will likely depend on establishing the ground game. Each team will look to move the chains on the ground and pass when it wants to, not when it needs to.
The X-factor may be which team handles pressure the better. Both squads are familiar with playing on the big stage, but this might be the biggest regular season game in the state all year.
“I don’t think this game can be topped in Illinois,” Steele said.
Video from MaxPrepsTV:
Wheaton-Warrenville South
Naperville North
Coverage by Patrick Mooney, Naperville Sun