Sports
Friday Night Lights: Previewing Week 4 High School Football Games
St. Francis and Wheaton Academy square off at College of DuPage, while the Falcons and Tigers try to make it two victories in a row.
Wheaton Academy vs. St. Francis
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: College of DuPage football field, Herb Salberg Sports Complex, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn
Records: St. Francis 2-1, 0-1; Wheaton Academy 0-3, 0-1
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Last week: Marian Central Catholic 24, St. Francis 6; Elgin St. Edward 40, Wheaton Academy 0
Head coaches: Greg Purnell, St. Francis; Ben Wilson, Wheaton Academy
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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
Wheaton Academy: Drew Decker, RB; Ben Franz, OL-DL; Matt Lindsay, WR-LB; Kevin Mann, WR-DB; Nate Martinez, QB; John Mark Wiersma, RB
About the game
The Spartans’ offense, which averaged just over 21 points in each of their victories over Riverside-Brookfield and Vernon Hills to open the season, ran into difficulty last week. Marian Central limited St. Francis to just one touchdown while handing the Spartans their first loss of the season—and first defeat in the SCC Blue.
The Warriors, meanwhile, got a rude welcome to the rugged Blue Division, courtesy of St. Edward, which handed Wheaton Academy its second shutout loss in as many weeks. On paper, it doesn’t look good for the Warriors, who’ve been outscored 82-0 the past two weeks. Martinez and Lindsay, both juniors, are leading a Warriors’ offense that has no returning starters.
Petrando, Donati, Bosch and the St. Francis offense could very well have a field day vs. Wheaton Academy’s defense. Last week, the Green Wave piled up nearly 500 yards in total offense on the Warriors.
Wheaton North at West Chicago
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: West Chicago High School, 326 Joliet St.
Records: Wheaton North 2-1, 1-0; West Chicago 0-3, 0-1
Last week: Wheaton North 24, Naperville North 13; Glenbard North 42, West Chicago 0
Head coaches: Joe Wardynski, Wheaton North; Paul Reinke, West Chicago
Key players
Wheaton North: Landon Bruni, OL; John Daniels, WR; Micah Penn, WR; John Peltz, QB; Patrick Sharp, RB; Mike Swider, LB
West Chicago: Matt Green, QB; John Ragano, LB; AJ Seidler, RB; Alec Strachota, WR; Nate Sudnick, LB; Anthony Venen, RB
About the game
The Falcons have exhibited a flair for the dramatic in each of their victories thus far. In Week 1, they held off a late charge by Bartlett, and last week, they overcame a halftime deficit on the road at Naperville North to defeat the Huskies in the DVC opener for both teams.
The Swider-led Falcon defense kept Naperville North off the scoreboard during the second half, while Sharp—who’s fast becoming one of the DVC’s premier backs—compiled over 140 yards rushing. Peltz continues to be a dual threat through the air and on the ground.
Wheaton North shouldn’t experience much difficulty facing the Wildcats on either side of the ball. Sandwiched in between West Chicago’s 18-16 loss to Larkin in Week 2 are identical 42-0 shellackings at the hands of Addison Trail and, last week, Glenbard North. (The Panthers scored all of their points in the first half.)
Green, West Chicago’s QB, is mobile, yet isn’t much of a threat, passing-wise. He has yet to accumulate over 100 yards in a game, and in fact, has passed for less than 10 yards in two of the Wildcats’ three contests.
Wheaton Warrenville South at Naperville North
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Naperville North High School, 899 N. Mill St.
Records: Wheaton Warrenville South 1-2, 1-0; Naperville North 1-2, 0-1
Last week: Wheaton Warrenville South 20, West Aurora 6; Wheaton North 24, Naperville North 13
Head coaches: Ron Muhitch, Wheaton Warrenville South; Sean Drendel, Naperville North
Key players
Wheaton Warrenville South: Thaddeus Armstrong, QB; Adam Dansdill, LB; Patrick Garner, RB; Jack Lipinsky, DE; Brandon Peterson, LB; Dan Vitale, RB.
Naperville North: Tyler Gehr, QB; Dominic Imburgia, RB; Nick Krejci, LB; Zac Martin, TE; Danny Puknaitis, RB; Mike Wisner, CB
About the game
After two frustrating losses—and not much offense being generated in each of those defeats—the during Week 3 as Vitale took charge. The Northwestern-bound senior put WWS on his back with a three-touchdown, 160-yard performance vs. the Blackhawks. Yet some of frustration WWS has been experiencing offensively was again evident in the first half as the Tigers and West Aurora both went scoreless.
Armstrong and Graham began splitting duties during the Tigers’ loss to Maine South in Week 2. That arrangement continued last week, and likely will be the status quo for the foreseeable future. Once again, defense kept the Tigers in the game. WWS held the Blackhawks to under 160 yards in total offense and just 35 rushing yards.
Look for Vitale to get his number called often against the Huskies, who’ve had difficulty stopping the run. Two Neuqua Valley backs combined for over 300 yards in Naperville North’s opener, and Wheaton North’s Patrick Sharp gained 140 on the Huskies last Friday. But the Huskies have their own running threat, Puknaitis, who’s been averaging just under 120 yards per game.
