Sports
Friday Night Lights: Previewing Week 3 High School Football Games
Undefeated Spartans visit undefeated Marian Central Catholic; Falcons and Tigers begin DuPage Valley Conference play.
St. Francis at Marian Central Catholic
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Marian Central Catholic High School, 1001 McHenry Ave., Woodstock
Records: St. Francis 2-0, Marian Central Catholic 2-0
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Last week: St. Francis 22, Vernon Hills 21; Marian Central Catholic 14, McHenry 9
Head coaches: St. Francis, Greg Purnell; Marian Central Catholic, Ed Brucker
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Key players
St. Francis: Dan Beck, RB-DB; Kyle Bosch, OT; Nick Donati, QB; Robert Dwyer, OT; Jack Petrando, RB-LB; Jeff Ruskowski, RB-LB.
Marian Central Catholic: Sam Calderaro, RB; Chris Daniels, RB; Ryan Hickey, DB: Chris Streveler, QB; Scott Taylor, OT; Kyle Thompson, WR.
About the game
Two undefeated Suburban Christian Blue heavyweights face off in their conference opener. The Hurricanes, a 2010 Class 5A playoff team who were ousted by eventual state champion Montini, have upended two schools nearly twice their enrollment so far—Oswego 47-41 in Week 1 and McHenry 14-9 last week.
The Spartans, meanwhile, overcame a 14-0 deficit at Vernon Hills with a second-half rally to nip the Cougars. Petrando scored two touchdowns and rushed for 200 yards, but crossing the goal line a third time that night—on a two-point conversion—provided the Spartans with their margin of victory.
The Hurricanes, who’ve trailed in each of their first two games, know all about come-from-behind victories, too. Last week, Streveler saved the day by scoring on a 23-yard touchdown run with 2:23 to go. In Week 1, the Hurricanes were in the second half before they prevailed.
Taylor, Bosch’s counterpart at MCC, checks in at 6-foot-3, 275 pounds. He committed to Northern Illinois over the summer.
Naperville North at Wheaton North
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Wheaton North High School, 701 W. Thomas
Records: Naperville North 1-1, Wheaton North 1-1
Last week: Naperville North 14, Thornton 10; Geneva 33, Wheaton North 24
Head coaches: Naperville North, Sean Drendel; Wheaton North, Joe Wardynski
Key players
Naperville North: Tyler Gehr, QB; Dominic Imburgia, RB; Nick Krejci, LB; Zac Martin, TE; Danny Puknaitis, RB; Mike Wisner, CB;
Wheaton North: Landon Bruni, OL; John Daniels, WR; Micah Penn, WR; John Peltz, QB; Patrick Sharp, RB; Mike Swider, LB.
About the game
The Falcons go into their DVC opener after splitting their first two contests of 2011 against Upstate Eight foes Bartlett (Week 1) and Geneva. The quarterback factory that is Wheaton North has another good one on its hands in Peltz, a junior who’s thrown five touchdown passes in two weeks—three coming during last Friday’s loss to the Vikings.
Wheaton North, however, may not need to rely on Peltz, Daniels and Penn so much this week. Sharp could have a field day, given that Naperville North gave up nearly 300 yards on the ground in its season-opening loss to Neuqua Valley.
Naperville North isn’t much of a threat to throw the ball, but the Huskies possess an effective backfield with Putnaitis—who’s eclipsed the century mark each of the past two games (including 150 yards vs. Thornton)—and Gehr, who rushed for 100 yards against Neuqua Valley.
West Aurora at Wheaton Warrenville South
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Wheaton Warrenville South High School, 1993 Tiger Trail
Records: West Aurora 2-0, Wheaton Warrenville South 0-2.
Last week: West Aurora 20, St. Charles East 7; Maine South 13, Wheaton Warrenville South 9
Head coaches: West Aurora, Nate Eimer; Wheaton Warrenville South, Ron Muhitch
Key players
West Aurora: Shon Enoch, Jonathan Gosong, KR-PR; RB; Kenny Hine, WR; Brooker Ross, RB; Brandon Warren, DL; Nate Zinzer, WR.
Wheaton Warrenville South: Thaddeus Armstrong, QB; Adam Dansdill, LB; Patrick Garner, RB; Jack Lipinsky, DE; Brandon Peterson, LB; Dan Vitale, RB.
About the game
Despite its 2-0 start, West Aurora may be just what the doctor ordered for the Tigers, who are seeking their first 2011 victory. East Aurora, whom the Blackhawks easily handled 48-6 in Week 1, is perennially bad, and St. Charles East may not be much better than the Tomcats.
The Tigers, who’ve scored only one TD in each of their first two games against Glenbard West and three-time defending 8A champion Maine South, are hoping to break out of their offensive doldrums this week. The Tigers arguably could have defeated if they had converted two golden scoring opportunities—one, a dropped pass in the end zone; the other, a first-and-goal situation inside the 10-yard line. But they failed to do so.
It should be interesting to see who gets the nod as the Tigers’ starting QB Friday night. The jury is still out on Armstrong, who looked more comfortable last week, but rarely has been able to lead WWS on sustained drives. Ryan Graham took over in the third quarter and is the more mobile of the two, but he is a sophomore.
Although WWS will have to keep an eye on Enoch (123 yards last week) and Gosong, an effective kick-punt returner, it’s difficult to imagine the Blackhawks will find paydirt much against the Tigers. WWS’ defense has been getting stellar play from, among others, Dansdill, Lipinsky, senior defensive end Mark Rooney and linebacker Dan Roadman, also a senior.
