North-South Game a Must-Win for Tigers

The Wheaton North Falcons and Wheaton Warrenville South Tigers will face each other Friday for their last game of the regular season.

The Falcons (7-1, 5-1) have a secure spot as the No. 2 seed in the Class 7A playoffs and are gearing up for the game after suffering their first loss to Glenbard North last week.

The Tigers (4-4, 4-1) need the win to make the playoffs. Losing would make 2012 the first year the Tigers have not made the playoffs since 2002, the same year the Falcons last beat the Tigers.

“We’re fighting for our playoff life here. To get in, we know we’ve got to beat them,” said Wheaton Warrenville South Coach Ron Muhitch. “We know they (Falcons) had a tough game last week. I’m sure they’re going to bounce back and be ready.”

The Falcons have had a nearly perfect season, complete with huge plays, high-scoring games and consistent playmakers like quarterbacks John Peltz and Clayton Thorson, wide receiver Matt Biegalski and running back Patrick Sharp.

Muhitch saw it coming. “Starting last year, I saw that… Not only in football but also track.”

Muhitch says South this week will need to stop North from connecting on “the big play” they’ve been able to execute in almost every game this season.

“If we can keep them from connecting on the big play… We’ll have a chance to control on our end, offensively, and maybe keep their offense off the field,” he said.

Last week, after Thorson scored on a 36-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter, Peltz connected with Biegalski on a 72-yard passing score with a little over two minutes remaining, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Muhitch said he studies stats, particularly interceptions. This season, Peltz has had none.

“We hope that changes… But he’s taking care of the ball for them and making great decisions,” he said.

The receivers all seem to be on the same page, he added. “They look very good at their passing game and because of that, they’re going to be very hard to stop.”

The North-South game has been in the Tigers’ hands for years. Muhitch said the pressure will be on this year for the team to live up to the hype of the rivalry.

Wheaton North coach Joe Wardynski said despite any ideas of a rivalry, the Falcons are preparing no differently than they would any other week.

“It’s hard to even call it a rivalry because it’s been dominated by one school from a football perspective.

“We’re not going to treat it any different... (We’re) trying to focus on us and playing better football.”

Wardynski said his players have had success against the Tigers at the freshman, sophomore and junior varsity levels and hope to see it again this week.

Editor's note: This is the first of a two-part series about the Wheaton North-Wheaton Warrenville South football game and players', coaches' and others' perspectives on the longtime rivalry—or lack thereof—between the two teams.

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After a tough loss, Peltz says the Falcons will need to come out differently against the Tigers, finishing drives and scoring more in the red zone.

The North-South matchup, he said, is always a tough game.

“It always comes down to the little things. It always comes down to the last quarter.”

Wheaton North captain and senior linebacker Luke Sahly said the hype around the longtime North-South rivalry is not on players’ minds.

“We try not to look at it as that… It’s fun playing South, because we played with them on the Rams… We know the guys, but try to play a regular game and try not to hype.”

Tiger wide receiver Brandon Moore, however, says he cannot lose this game.

“It’s a huge game. It’s a big rivalry… And getting into the playoffs (is) something we’ve been dreaming about for the whole season.”

He said this week’s matchup will require good performances from special teams, calm players, and no mistakes.

Moore too has come up with North players since their Rams days and respects his opponents, “but at the same time, there’s no way I can lose to those kids… This is like, the biggest game of my life. That’s how I feel about it.”

The Falcons play the Tigers 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at Wheaton North High School.