Football Fever

O'Shaughnessy heading to Illinois State

2009-11-05T15:17:18Z

Naperville North wide receiver James O'Shaughnessy has given a verbal commitment to Illinois State. The 6-foot-4-inch, 210-pound senior finished this season with 19 catches for 184 yards and a touchdown. O'Shaughnessy was also a special-teams presence for the 5-5 Huskies, returning 10 kicks for 294 yards.

All-ESCC

2009-11-02T19:18:34Z

Four Benet players were named to the East Suburban Catholic Conference honor roll: senior offensive lineman John Cannova; junior offensive lineman Pat Flavin; senior defensive lineman Nick Melka; and senior linebacker Mike Runger. For the entire all-ESCC list, click here. The conference's individual awards are listed below.

Most Valuable Player: Julian Sipiora, St Viator
Most Valuable Offensive Player: Mike Perish, Marist
Most Valuable Offensive Lineman: Dan Foreman, Joliet Catholic
Most Valuable Defensive Player: Jake Stockman, Joliet Catholic
Most Valuable Defensive Lineman: Steve Lester, Carmel Catholic
Coach of the Year: Dave Mattio, Marian Catholic

All-DVC

2009-10-29T18:18:20Z

2009 All-DuPage Valley Conference
OFFENSE
Offensive Team Co-Captains: Nick Linne, Naperville Central; Leon Spears, West Aurora
Outstanding Co-Offensive Lineman: Mike Partipillo, Glenbard North; Roco Ammons, Wheaton Warrenville South

Running Back
*Evin Natick, Glenbard North senior
*Idris Hanidu, Naperville North senior
Leon Spears, West Aurora senior

Wide Receivers/Ends
Mike Carev, Glenbard North senior
*Hayden Daniels, Naperville Central junior
Richard Finley, Wheaton North junior
Greg McAndrews, Wheaton Warrenville South senior

Offensive Line
Nick Wozniak, Glenbard North senior
Mike Partipillo, Glenbard North senior
*Soern Osborne, Naperville North junior
Nolan Randall, Naperville North senior
Rocco Ammons, Wheaton Warrenville South senior
Chris Cortopassi, Wheaton Warrenville South senior

Quarterback
Jack Merrithey, Glenbard East senior
Nick Linne, Naperville Central senior
Reilly O'Toole, Wheaton Warrenville South junior

TE/Offensive All Purpose
Lee Skinner, Glenbard East senior
Cam Brate, Naperville Central senior
Mack Tracey, Wheaton Warrenville South senior

DEFENSE
Defensive Team Captain: Nick Lifka, Naperville North
Outstanding Defensive Linemen: Nick Abbate, Glenbard North

Defensive Back
Brandon Salemi, Glenbard North senior
Blake Zumpano, West Chicago senior
Carson Rajcan, Wheaton North senior
Shane Dierking, Wheaton Warrenville South senior
Caleb Bednarz, Wheaton Warrenville South senior

Linebacker
John Pullia, Glenbard North senior
Chris Wahrman, Glenbard North senior
Will Sayer, Naperville Central junior
*Nick Lifka, Naperville North junior
Jack Krejci, Naperville North senior
Jack Eshleman, Wheaton Warrenville South junior

Defensive Line
*Nick Abbate, Glenbard North senior
*Alex Schaefer, Naperville Central senior
*Matt Ives, Wheaton Warrenville South senior
*Tyler Becker, Wheaton Warrenville South senior

Specialist
Steve Jones, Wheaton North senior
Nick Immekus, Wheaton Warrenville South senior

*Represents unanimous selection

Unveiling the IHSA playoff brackets

2009-10-20T21:26:33Z

The playoff pairings will be announced live on Saturday at 8 p.m. across a range of local radio stations and IHSA television partners, including My 50 and CN100. For a list of options, click here or here.

National Prep Football Poll: Midwest Rankings

2009-10-20T19:44:46Z

Maine South, the defending Class 8A champion, could be the bracket's top seed by Saturday night. It's ranked second in the Midwest by the National Prep Football Poll and has to be considered the favorite in Class 8A. You might remember Cathedral -- the Indianapolis school pounded Neuqua Valley 63-34 at the beginning of October.

Midwest
1. Cleveland, St. Ignatius, 8-0-0
2. Park Ridge, Ill., Maine South, 8-0-0
3. Fort Thomas, Ky., Highlands, 8-0-0
4. Cincinnati, Moeller, 8-0-0
5. Cincinnati, St. Xavier, 7-1-0
6. Cleveland, Glenville, 7-1-0
7. Steubenville, Ohio, 8-0-0
8. Indianapolis, Cathedral, 8-1-0
9. Novi, Mich., Catholic Central, 8-0-0
10. Dublin, Ohio, Coffman, 8-0-0

WN's Graham, Ohio State recruit, out with season-ending knee injury

2009-10-07T17:51:36Z

While breaking down Wheaton North during the next two weeks, Naperville Central and Naperville North won't have to plan for Falcons quarterback Taylor Graham. The senior - who has verbally committed to Ohio State and is the son of Kent, the former NFL quarterback - is out with a knee injury.

"He's done," Wheaton North coach Joe Wardynski said Wednesday. "He won't play again (this season)."

Graham missed a significant part of his junior season with a broken ankle. The 6-foot-5-inch, 215-pound pocket passer then injured his knee during a Week 2 defeat at Lake Zurich. The knee problem was aggravated again when he returned to last week's 45-0 loss to Wheaton Warrenville South.

"I feel bad for the kid," Wardynski said. "He had - what? - four-and-a-half games where he was healthy last year. And one-and-a-half games this year."

LeFevour spotlighted in Sports Illustrated

2009-10-01T21:20:39Z

Check out this feature on Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour. Lars Anderson writes:

At Benet Academy...LeFevour played in a rush-heavy double wing. Because he attempted only a dozen passes a game, he attracted little interest from I-A schools. Even after he sent video to 30 programs, including Notre Dame and every team in the Big Ten, he received scholarship offers only from Central Michigan, Ball State, Eastern Michigan and Eastern Illinois. "I went to football camps and thought I had as much talent as anyone, but looking back I was just raw," says LeFevour, whom some NFL scouts rate as a first- or second-round pick. "I had to learn how to be a quarterback."

Crosstown ticket information

2009-09-29T18:30:44Z

Tickets for Friday night's District 203 crosstown game at North Central College will be on sale at Naperville North and Naperville Central through Thursday of this week.

At North, tickets can be purchased at the main office. Central is selling tickets from its athletic office. Both offices will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Tickets cost $6 for adults and $4 for students. No reserved seats will be sold. Gates will open Friday at 4 p.m., an hour before the sophomore game begins. The varsity game is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. This is considered a home game for North.

Throughout this week, we'll have more on the crosstown in the print edition.

NAPERVILLE'S NFL TRACKER

2009-09-24T06:00:00Z

Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints head coach
Alma mater: Naperville Central
Week 2: Payton has an offensive background and his Saints (2-0) are absolutely lighting up the scoreboard. Coming off a 48-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans leads the NFL by a wide margin in total yards (936) and points scored (93).
Coming up: At Buffalo Bills (1-1), Sunday 3:05 p.m.

Owen Daniels, Houston Texans tight end
Alma mater: Naperville Central
Week 2: Daniels caught a one-yard touchdown pass that tied the game 31-31 late in the third quarter in Nashville, Tenn. The Texans (1-1) then completed the comeback against the Tennessee Titans and scored a 34-31 victory. Daniels finished with six catches for 72 yards.
Coming up: At Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2), Sunday 12 p.m.

Chris Brown, Houston Texans running back
Alma mater: Naperville North
Week 2: Brown is becoming a contributor out of Houston's backfield. He carried the ball eight times for 25 yards (3.1 average), though nearly half of that output came on a 12-yard gain, his longest run of the day in Tennessee. With Steve Slaton struggling, the Texans are ranked last in the NFL in rushing yards per game (50.5). That could create more opportunities for Brown.

Around the state

2009-09-23T22:04:44Z

Nuggets from Matt Troha, an IHSA assistant executive director:

--Riverside-Brookfield wide receiver Mark McDonagh caught an IHSA single-game record
20 passes in a 65-26 win over Robeson in Week 3, two weeks after tying the
previous record with 19 against Metamora. McDonagh could make a run at the
IHSA's single-season record of 130 catches by Eric Schuler of Lexington in 2006.

--Now in his 16th year, Lake Park head coach Andy Livingston earned his 100th career victory with a 42-7 win over Streamwood last week.

District 204 showdown

2009-09-23T01:00:00Z

Tickets for Friday night's Waubonsie Valley-Neuqua Valley game at North Central College will be on sale at both District 204 schools this week.

The Waubonsie main office will be selling tickets Wednesday and Thursday from 9:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Neuqua's athletic office and main office on the gold campus will also offer a pre-sale Thursday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

District 204 staff with identification, plus one guest, may enter at no charge. Waubonsie season passes and student activity passes will be accepted - those from Neuqua will not, as it's considered a home game for the Warriors.

We'll have more on this crosstown game throughout the week.

Looking ahead to WW South

2009-09-22T20:44:49Z

There will not be a ticket pre-sale for Friday night's game at Naperville North, according to Doug Smith, the school's athletic director. But before the Huskies take on Wheaton Warrenville South, the school will have a dedication ceremony for recently renovated Harshbarger-Welzel Field. It will begin approximately 30 minutes before the scheduled 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

Here's a first-look preview of what should be another classic DuPage Valley Conference game.

North's opening ceremony

2009-09-14T21:48:41Z

The official dedication of recently renovated Harshbarger-Welzel Field will take place on Sept. 25, the night Naperville North faces Wheaton Warrenville South.

"We're in the process of trying to pull everything together for that right now," North athletic director Doug Smith said the other day. "We don't have everything finalized but we're getting pretty close."

BENET 36, ST. JOSEPH 24

2009-09-14T16:31:40Z

This box score from Saturday may have been left on the cutting room floor after Benet's 36-24 victory. Benet (2-1) next hosts Carmel on Friday night at Benedictine.

BENET 36, ST. JOSEPH 24
Benet 0 20 16 0 -- 36
St. Joseph 7 10 0 7 -- 24
SJ -- Boddy 52-yard pass from Meredith (Castanon kick)
BA -- Kamykowski 5-yard run (pass failed)
SJ -- Nance 57-yard pass from Meredith (Castanon kick)
BA -- Howe 89-yard kickoff return (run failed)
SJ -- Castanon 30-yard field goal
BA -- Flood 15-yard pass from Terna (Howe run)
BA -- Howe 5-yard run (Howe run)
BA -- Howe 9-yard run (Kamykowski run)
SJ -- Meredith 4-yard run (Castanon kick)

TEAM STATISTICS
BA SJ
First downs 19 12
Rushes-yards 41-169 15-59
Comp.-Att.-Int. 13-20-0 24-37-1
Passing yards 241 303
Total yards 410 362
Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0
Penalties-yards 9-70 5-35

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Benet -- Howe 19-76, Boyle 6-36, Kamykowski 6-35, Terna 10-22. St. Joseph -- Meredith 10-23, Boddy 4-22, Carr 3-19, Robison 1-(-5).
PASSING: Benet -- Terna 13-20-0 241. St. Joseph -- Meredith 24-37-1 303.
RECEIVING: Benet -- Flood 3-81, Nelligan 3-67, Howe 3-62, Melka 1-16, Kamykowski 1-8, Ziffra 1-8. St. Joseph -- Boddy 5-115, Quintana 8-80, Nance 2-64, Polak 3-24, Jackson 4-16, Ginwright 1-9, Carr 1-(-5).

Death Valley

2009-09-10T14:54:58Z

Beacon News writer Jim Owczarski breaks down West Aurora's place in the DuPage Valley Conference and its upcoming matchup against Naperville Central. The Blackhawks are pinning their hopes on an offensive line that averages 6 feet, 3 inches and 263 pounds.

Since joining the DuPage Valley Conference in 1997, West Aurora has gone 17-67. Here is how the Blackhawks have stacked up against their rivals over the years:

6-6 vs. Glenbard East
5-7 vs. West Chicago
4-8 vs. Wheaton North
2-10 vs. Glenbard North
0-12 vs. Naperville Central
0-12 vs. Naperville North
0-12 vs. Wheaton Warrenville South