Schedule is brutal, but don't bet against Panthers

If you hope to survive the DuPage Valley Conference, it's best to keep your head on a swivel.

Sorry for sounding dramatic, but things get dicey when you don't see what's coming your way.

Don't look now, but Glenbard North is coming everyone's way.

The Panthers handled Wheaton North 36-13 on Friday, setting up an interesting couple of weeks of DVC football. Needless to say the Panthers like the view much better than a week ago.

Coming off a 15-13 loss to Crystal Lake South -- a team ranked third in Class 7A -- Glenbard North knew Friday's DVC opener was a must-win situation. Taking a 1-2 record into next week's showdown against defending Class 8A state champion Wheaton Warrenville South simply wasn't an option.

"One game at a time," said Panthers two-way senior standout Matt Ng. "Every game's going to be a battle. You've got to stay prepared and focused or it'll cost you."

The Panthers truly stayed focused, although you wonder how they kept from looking ahead. By the time they're done with Week 5, four state-ranked teams will be in the rear-view mirror.

Crystal Lake South, WW South and Naperville North -- the Week 5 opponent and the Daily Herald's top-ranked team -- are still unbeaten. Glenbard North is the only reason why Wheaton North, which came into Friday's game ranked seventh in 7A, isn't anymore.

Getting off on the wrong foot against the Falcons could have led to the wrong leg and torso in the two-week grind that follows. With this key win under its belt, confidence is high as Glenbard North continues its wicked stretch of schedule.

Early in the season the DVC had its collective mind set on Naperville North and WW South. Better add the Panthers to that list.

"Last week was hard and it put us in a mode where we had to pick it up," said senior linebacker Adrian Leal. "It is hard to see it one week at a time, but you've got to focus only on the team that's in front of you on that Friday. You can't worry about who you're playing next week."

Not that the Panthers are worried. At this point the rest of the conference might need to be worried about them.

And they'd better keep that head on a swivel because the DVC just became a whole lot tougher.

"We knew this five-game stretch was tough, but we've just got to take it one game at a time," said Panthers coach Ryan Wilkens. "We're a pretty darn good team if we can stay focused like we did tonight."