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Lisle thinking big in IEC Small

Paul Parpet Sr. wasted no time answering the question.

"We're going to try and win it," Lisle's football coach said with usual authority.

Naturally the Lions will try to win the Interstate Eight Conference Small Division, despite Wilmington owning a stranglehold on the title.

"They've won it I don't know how many years in a row now, they were (Class 3A) state champion two years ago," said Westmont coach Otto Zeman. "They're the big boys on the block."

Coach Jeff Reents' Wildcats have won eight straight IEC Small titles. Wilmington hasn't lost a divisional game since finishing third in 2007, a streak of 40 straight victories over Small opponents.

"For the kids part of the thing is when they get beat every year by the same team they start to believe they can't beat them, no matter what," Zeman said.

That mental edge may be narrowing. Wilmington beat Lisle 34-3 in 2014, Parpet's first season there. Last year Lisle held within 14-7 with five minutes left before Wilmington scored a final touchdown. Lisle also beat Herscher, Coal City and Plano consecutively, a real rarity.

"I feel the conference will really take a step up with the improvement of Lisle. They will be very good," said 22-year coach Reents, who assuredly will join Parpet and Zeman in the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame when eligible after his 25th season.

Lisle returns three all-conference players including Mark McGrath, the division's most impactful player. He caught 5 passes for 111 yards with a 59-yard touchdown catch last season against Wilmington.

Two-way stalwarts Mark Pivek and Grant Haen also return for the Lions, who should be faster with brothers Isaiah and Jared Hunter in the defensive secondary and Josh Jamison at running back. Their defensive line is good now and later with junior Ben Laning leading three sophomores.

"Our issue is going to be depth," Parpet said. "If we can stay healthy we can be a very competitive football team."

Wilmington graduated all-state back Nick Hawkins but returns all-conference linebacker Owen Weaver and linemen Sam Jones and R.J. Van Duyne.

Peotone - 3-6 last year but with a 39-22 win over Lisle - has moved into the Small Division with Herscher going Large. Manteno has won two straight IEC Large titles over Plano and Coal City.

Westmont offers several potential all-conference players such as sophomore Alex Marotta, lineman Josh Thime and receiver Marquis Thomas, who could end his senior season as the Sentinels' leading all-time receiver.

Realistically it would take a huge jump for the Sentinels, Seneca or Reed-Custer to eclipse Wilmington. Lisle and Peotone will battle for third, second or - believe it or not - first.

"Lisle has not won a conference title since 1981 (in the Northeast Conference)," Parpet said. "We're going to try to win it."

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