Unbeatens meet in DuPage Valley
Huskies on rebound from 2- 7 seasons; Wildcats still rolling
After five weeks, two unbeaten teams have emerged atop the DuPage Valley Conference. Neuqua Valley will visit Naperville North on Friday, each squad boasting 5- 0 records.
Huge? Yes. It’s also business as usual in the DVC.
“We’re approaching this game like we’ve approached every other game,” said Neuqua Valley coach Bill Ellinghaus, in his fifth season at the helm. “We’re going to take care of ourselves first. We’ve got to get better. There’s certainly room for improvement on offense and defense.”
Naperville North coach Sean Drendel could have said the same the last couple years. The proud program that won state titles in 1992 and 2007 fell to consecutive 2- 7 seasons in 2014 and 2015.
Sixteen returning starters can bring back some mojo. So did the hiring of spreadoffense guru Mike Fitzgerald, the former St. Francis coach and Marist offensive coordinator. Also brought in was former Plainfield Central coach John Jackson, an Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee who ran the defense for Naperville North’s 1992 Class 6A champions.
“Since about this time last year, we’ve been focusing on running the football and stopping the run. That’s what we’ll need to do again this game,” Drendel said.
The Huskies have succeeded on both counts this season. Led by the one- two backfield punch of Eric Wright ( 534 yards, six touchdowns) and Cross Robinson ( 355 yards, two touchdowns) Naperville North has run for 1,038 yards.
A defense anchored by tackles Isaac Velasco and Malik Wells and linebacker Derek Amend has allowed just 82 rushing yards a game. Defensive back Kiser Floyd leads the Huskies with 32 tackles, and Grant Ericksen is among DuPage County’s interception leaders with four. Quarterback Luke Cegles, a returning starter, has passed for 839 yards and 11 touchdowns with only three interceptions. Possession receiver Matt Montgomery ( 20 catches, 173 yards) stands 5- 10, but he’s in the minority. Nick Calcagno ( 18 catches, 250 yards, four touchdowns) and Mitch Lewis ( nine catches, 219 yards, five touchdowns) stand 6- 3 and 6- 6, respectively.
“Our kids have handled the attention pretty well, but this week will be a little different,” Drendel said. “It’s a game that means a lot to both teams. It’s a game that could determine the conference champion.”
Neuqua Valley has been in this position many times, earning at least a share of six Upstate Eight Conference titles before finishing third in the DVC in 2015, its first year in the league.
Neuqua is unbeaten even without its full complement of players, namely Notre Dame- bound receiver- safety Isaiah Robertson and Navybound receiver Owen Piche. They’ve been either out or limited by injury.
Depth has responded. Though Robertson ( 17 catches, 220 yards, three touchdowns) is coming on, Donny Navarro ( 27 catches, 346 yards, two touchdowns) enters the game as the Wildcats’ top receiver.
Quick junior running back Cameron Raupach has run for 379 yards and four touchdowns. The quarterback duo of senior Jack Bastable and junior Jake Eskoff has been a success. They’ve combined to throw for 832 yards and five touchdowns, completing a sparkling 70.8 percent of their passes.
Defensively, lineman Tommy Ciesla ( 28 tackles, eight for loss) and linebackers Jon Rhattigan ( 41 tackles, five for loss) and Anthony Ippolito ( 34 tackles) head a unit that stuffs the run, allowing an average of 79.2 yards on the ground.
Neuqua’s secondary of Robertson, JaQuere Williams, Joey Elwood and Ryan Wheeler ( three interceptions) is a big reason opponents complete only 47 percent of their passes.
This report was produced in partnership with the Daily Herald. For related coverage, visit dailyherald. com/ sports/ prep.