Veteran coaches to meet again

No disrespect to Grant Haen, Alex Lange, Mark McGrath, Alec Van Volkenburg and the rest of the Lisle football team, but the highlight of Friday's game at Aurora Central Catholic may occur before kickoff.

Renewing an on field relationship dating to the 1980s, Lisle coach Paul Parpet Sr. and ACC coach John Belskis will hug it out during the captain's handshake as they did when friendly rivals in the West Suburban Conference.

Parpet, in his second season as Lisle's coach, and Belskis, leading ACC after two years as its defensive coordinator, represented the cream of the Gold Division crop at Addison Trail and Downers Grove South, respectively.

"We've had our day in the sun," Parpet said, "and we're doing this for the right reasons."

Parpet went 158-122 with state runner-up finishes in 1983 and 1997 in 28 seasons at Addison Trail before retiring in 2009. Belskis was 201-62 from 1989-2012 with a 2001 Class 8A title and a runner-up spot in 1993. Parpet was inducted into the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2002, Belskis in 2010.

"I know their offense and defense - I've known it for 30 years - and he knows our offense and defense," said Belskis, who coaches his son, Johnny, ACC's starting quarterback. "We're not going to trick anyone Friday night. It'll come down to execution and being able to outhit your opponent.

"I'm looking forward to it. He's a great guy and you don't get those opportunities very often."

Parpet recalled when Downers Grove South was coming off a 2002 teachers strike and requested its game against Addison Trail be moved to Saturday from Friday to enable a day of practice. Some would have preferred a forfeit win, but Parpet accepted the request. When he and Belskis met at midfield that Saturday a hug cemented their bond.

"One thing about the two teams at Downers South and Addison Trail was it was very, very competitive, and we always had a lot of respect for each other, and that's carried through," Parpet said.

Neither has been with his new team longer than three years. Lisle and ACC each seeks its first win of the young season. When these veterans meet none of that will matter.

"I don't feel any different about it," Belskis said. "You know what it is? It's enjoyable knowing the guy across the field is a great guy. No matter who wins, there's no egos involved."

Backed into a corner:

Lake Park knew going into last week's game against Waubonsie Valley it'd be short-handed at running back due to a preseason injury to Jarkeyse Brackett. Returning starter Melvin Smiley had to stay healthy for the Lancers to maintain a running attack.

Things didn't go as planned.

Smiley was lost for the game with an injury suffered in the middle of the third quarter. That forced linebacker Jackson Nie - himself coming back from an injury - into action at running back. The only other viable option at that point was fellow linebacker Nathan Faruzzi, who had been back only three days an injury.

"We went into the game knowing if we lost Melvin we didn't have another running back," said Lancers coach Chris Roll. "We're just thin there."

Smiley may be back for Friday's game against Wheaton Warrenville South, but it's unclear how much he'll be able to play. If he can't go, it's on to Plan B.

"It's a difficult position to put someone into," Roll said. "It's going to have to be running back by committee."

Playoff mode:

Even though it was a season opener, last week's Naperville Central-Glenbard North DuPage Valley Conference showdown had a definite playoff feel to it.

Both sides felt the effects.

"That game was old-school football," said Naperville Central coach Mike Stine. "It was like a playoff game. Both teams played hard and physical."

Naperville Central escaped with a 13-12 victory in a game that could end up deciding the DVC champion. There's still eight long weeks to go, but the Redhawks and Glenbard North plan to be in the race for the long haul.

Surviving last week's slugfest was a key first step.

"Hopefully, that prepares us because it can't get more physical than that game," Stine said. "We came out of it as healthy as you can after playing Glenbard North."

Fire and ice water:

Last season Maine South blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown against Montini, then added the game-winning conversion.

Last week it was Montini's kicker who clinched the win.

Sophomore Michael Cooney, a transfer from Marmion, kicked a 31-yard field goal with about five minutes left to give the Broncos a 20-17 win over Maine South.

"We threw him right into the fire and he came out unscathed," said Montini coach Chris Andriano.

In the third quarter Cooney gave Montini a 17-9 lead on a 20-yard field goal. His kicks were the Broncos' sole second-half points.

"He had to have the ice water in his veins for us and he did a good job," Andriano said.

Next man up:

When Glenbard South returning all-Metro Suburban West quarterback Kyle Carli went down with a collarbone injury in a clean play last Friday against Addison Trail, it sent the Raiders in a different direction for at least the next month.

"That's a blow because he really is a major cog in the wheel to distribute the ball to the weapons we have," said first-year coach Ryan Crissey.

Glenbard South likely will lean heavier on junior running back Sean Cooke, who ran for 130 yards with a 61-yard touchdown run that gave the Raiders an early lead. At 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, Crissey described Cooke as "like a bowling ball with moves."

The Raiders also will bring up sophomore Jack Crouch, about 5-10, 170 pounds. Junior Justin Goetz spelled the injured Carli last week, but Crissey believes Goetz is too valuable at cornerback to risk injury elsewhere.

Crissey said Crouch is "super smart," poised with a solid throwing arm and has worked with private quarterback coaches but still must adapt to varsity speed.

"I kind of look at it like a redshirt year, but he gets to play his redshirt year," Crissey said.

Empty victory:

Chalk St. Francis up as 2-0, but it's nothing coach Mike Fitzgerald and his Spartans are too fired up about.

St. Francis, which hammered Kelvyn Park 46-0, takes a forfeit win this week against Hales Franciscan, which dropped its program this season. That game was originally scheduled for Week 5, but that's St. Francis' homecoming and they couldn't stomach no football for that week. The initial Week 2 game against Chicago's Catalyst/Maria was moved to Week 5.

It doesn't sit well.

"My heart breaks for these guys, especially the seniors because they have worked so hard and they only have so many games in their high school careers," Fitzgerald said.

The good news is St. Francis should be healthy entering its big Week 3 game at Marmion. Along with missed opportunity the bad news is the lack of playoff points due to forfeit. Down the line that could be an issue.

"I'm proud of how our guys have handled the situation. They are obviously bummed, but they have practiced extremely hard this week regardless of the situation," Fitzgerald said.

"They could easily use this as an excuse to go through the motions, but they are still focused on getting better, and we are using this week to fine tune some fundamental work. We are trying to turn this into a positive opportunity."