Wheaton Warrenville S.37, W. Chicago 0
Wheaton Warrenville South usually has no problem answering the door when opportunity comes knocking.
Friday night was no different on the road against West Chicago (1-2) as the Tigers beat the Wildcats 37-0.
But the football game wasn't that lopsided in the first half.
With just more than two minutes left in the second quarter, the Wildcats were down 7-0 and faced a fourth-and-1 on WW South's 37-yard line. The Tigers defense stopped James Eckler's attempt on a run for the first down.
The very next play, WW South's Francis Adarkwa broke loose for a 51-yard run down to the 13-yard line. Two plays later quarterback Mike Piatkowski found Craig Brown open in the end zone for a 12-yard score to open the flood gates.
"We had no reservations going for it on that fourth-and-1," West Chicago coach John Walters said. "We were running the ball very well that drive so we saw no problem going for it. After they stopped us they scored very quickly after that and we went into halftime 14 down instead of potentially being tied. We played very well against a team that has won (17) straight games tonight."
The Tigers (3-0, 1-0 DuPage Valley Conference) had very good balance as Piatkowski completed 12 of 17 passes for 181 yards while Adarkwa had 136 of the team's 173 rushing yards.
Piatkowski, who had 4 touchdown passes, completed his 12 passes to five receivers with Chris Schweighardt being his favorite target. Schweighardt caught 4 passes for 53 yards and 2 TDs. Mike Olp had a 16-yard touchdown reception for his only catch of the game.
"West Chicago was running a confusing defense," Piatkowski said. "I had to figure out what they were doing and find my receivers. They did a good job running patterns and catching the ball when they were open."
WW South coach Ron Muhitch talked about Piatkowski's toughness.
"That kid has been laid out at least five times in the first three games," Muhitch said. "He keeps getting up. Also, when teams try to take something away from him, he finds a different way to be successful. He just picks away at a weakness once he finds it. We can go as far as Mike can take us this year."
Eckler led the Wildcats with 93 yards on 25 carries.
With a 16-game winning streak and not really being challenged yet this season, the Tigers are not worried about a let-up.
"Coach reminds us every day that we are the reigning state champions," Piatkowski said. "Every time we step on the field, we have a target on our backs. We like that target because it keeps us focused."