CN100 Game of the Week preview: Football - North Chicago vs. Wauconda
Week 5: North Chicago Warhawks vs. Wauconda Bulldogs
WAUCONDA – Coming into the season, nobody could have predicted that Saturday's match-up between North Chicago and Wauconda would be the marquee game in the North Suburban Prairie this year.
With teams like Antioch and Vernon Hills finding success in recent years, these two teams would seem like the last to be staging a revival.
North Chicago has not made the playoffs since 2006, going 1-8 in each of former Chicago Bear Glen Kozlowski's three years as head coach. Wauconda has made one playoff appearance since 1998, and that was in 2007 when Kozlowski was coaching the Bulldogs.
Yet, heading into Saturday, North Chicago is 4-0, needing a win to become playoff eligible. Wauconda is 3-1, including a win over Vernon Hills last week. They square off Saturday at 1 p.m. at Wauconda in a game featured on CN100, The Comcast Network at Noon and 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 23, and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 25. You can also find the game throughout Chicagoland with Xfinity on Demand.
“The game is a big game,” Wauconda coach Dave Mills said. “Neither team has been in a big game for a couple of years. The ability to play big in the game and enjoy the big moments will be the mental edge that both teams are looking for.”
North Chicago has proven to be an opportunistic bunch as they have rolled to four wins, more than Kozlowski had combined in the last three years. After squeaking past Waukegan in Week 1, the Warhawks have allowed only 15 combined points while scoring 104. And it's not just star running back Arnold Shead and quarterback Jay Amos-Mays doing all of the damage.
The Warhawks are scoring touchdowns on special teams and on defense to supplement their talented offense. In the tapes Mills has watched, they have scored five touchdowns in those phases of the game.
“They are a big play team,” Mills said. “When that happens, it makes it hard on the opposing team. We are pushing our players to play tough and take care of the football. For the season, we only have four turnovers. We are hoping to continue that trend.”
The Bulldogs have been balanced all year behind quarterback Austin Swenson (701 yards passing, nine touchdowns, two interceptions) and running back David Starkey (419 yards, four touchdowns). Austin Piekarski and Alex Schwickrath have been Swenson's main targets in the passing game. Defensively, Chris Bednarski and Nate Magiera have been a force.
“This team has great chemistry and plays to the end,” Mills said. “Last week, our offense struggled with four starters out due to injuries. But our defense really stepped up. Nate Magiera had a monster game with 12.5 tackles and a scoop/score of 60 yards. The defense also had a goal line stand that kept Vernon Hills out of the end zone on fourth and inches.
“We've been involved in close games this season. We're hoping our ability to play in those close games will be an advantage on Saturday.”
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- Paul Johnson, CN100 Correspondent
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