DVC: November 2008 Archives

Larry McKeon will return for a 27th season at Naperville North, the school's head football coach said Tuesday. The Huskies are in their final days as reigning Class 8A champions - by Saturday night either Maine South or Hinsdale Central will be crowned in their place. Before all those reporters descend upon Champaign, it seemed like a good time to ask McKeon about the future.

"Yeah, I'm back," McKeon said with a laugh over the phone. "I'll be here, how 'bout you?"

Under McKeon's direction, North has made 12 consecutive playoff appearances, and qualified for the postseason in 22 of the past 23 seasons. According to IHSA records, after a 10-1 season his overall record at North is 226-67, which translates into a .771 winning percentage.

In about six months Nick Mlady will graduate as the program's all-time leading rusher. It will have to replace nearly all of its skill-position players and rebuild its offensive line. But that doesn't necessarily mean you should discount the double-wing system or this DuPage Valley Conference power. North's last losing season (4-5) was in 1983, or McKeon's first year with the Huskies.

-Last season several key Naperville North basketball players were still involved with a football state championship run by the time Thanksgiving tournaments rolled around. In their absence, the Huskies started slow on the way to an 11-16 finish.

The Huskies won't be double-booked this November. But basketball coach Mark Lindo - a regular presence at the Harshbarger-Welzel Field press box - didn't seem jealous or conflicted about the football program's success.

"We certainly wish they would've been playing, and I mean that. It was a nice problem to have, last year for example," Lindo said recently. "To be able to have your whole team there (will) certainly - I hope - benefit us. I don't think we really got started last year until the middle of December. We had a hole to dig (out of) already.

"I think right now we're right on schedule."

-The Glenbard North basketball program is expected to welcome back 6-foot-6-inch forward Evan Watkins, a Northwestern quarterback recruit.

Naperville North senior running back Nick Mlady, who is scheduled to visit Harvard this weekend, has been selected to the Chicago Sun-Times all-area team. In helping Mlady break Chris Brown's career rushing record, North offensive linemen Jake Baratz and Alex Helms earned special mention.

North defensive lineman Tim Weidenbacher, Neuqua Valley wide receiver Josh Schaffer and Waubonsie Valley kicker Mitch Ewald were also recognized on the special mention list.

LISLE - Check back soon for real-time updates from Benedictine University.

Naperville North swept through the DuPage Valley Conference undefeated, so it was no surprise when three Huskies received individual honors in the afterglow of a 9-0 regular season.

Senior running back Nick Mlady was named the DVC's offensive team captain, while senior Alex Helms was voted outstanding offensive lineman for opening so many of those holes.

On the other side of the ball, North senior Tim Weidenbacher was recognized as the conference's outstanding defensive lineman. Wheaton Warrenville South senior linebacker Pat Dansdill was selected as the defensive team captain.

The entire team is listed below: