Harper football gets big test with rival COD

Harper College's football team didn't have to learn the hard way last week.

But a 37-35 comeback win against the Wisconsin-Whitewater JV was a lesson for the Hawks (2-1, 1-1) as they return to Midwest Football Conference play at 1 p.m. Saturday with a visit from College of DuPage (2-1, 1-1).

"It gives the kids a chance to see they have to be on every Saturday to win the game," said Harper coach Dragan Teonic. "There is no true, dominant (conference) opponent right now. The guys got the message."

COD was tied with Grand Rapids for 18th in this week's NJCAA/JCFootball.com poll and Harper was 20th.

"It definitely opened our eyes," said Harper freshman quarterback Garrett Barnas, "and shows how every week you have to come out and perform well."

Barnas passed better than any quarterback in Harper history with a single-game record 357 yards and 4 touchdowns.

"I had no idea," the freshman from Bureau Valley said of surpassing Eric Schultz's 356 yards in 2003. "I wanted to go out and play the game and I wasn't concerned about the record at all."

One of the most encouraging signs for the Hawks was their game-winning 62-yard drive capped by Barnas' 10-yard run on fourth-and-2.

"That was the best football they've played all season," Teonic said of the offensive line. "On that drive every lineman graded out 100 percent."

The Hawks will also get better at running back as Billy Buehring returns from injury and Lee Plotz has been activated. But it won't be easy getting a 14th victory in the last 15 tries against COD.

Teonic said they'll have to tackle better, not just defensively but on special teams against dangerous COD return man Xavier Glenn.

Sophomore quarterback Thomas Specia has thrown for 432 yards with 3 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.

The Chaparrals also have a pair of talented Harper transfers in running back Nick Booth (258 yards, 4 TDs) and defensive end Dan Bermea (6 tackles for loss, 4½ sacks).

"This week we've got to put it all together," Barnas said.

"We haven't put together a game yet where everyone is on the same page," Teonic said. "Can we put together a whole game? I think it will take an all-out effort to beat this team."

In the rank and file: Harper wasn't penalized by its schedule when the first regular-season NJCAA Division III volleyball poll came out Wednesday.

The 9-9 Hawks were ranked eighth. N4C rival Rock Valley was fourth.

"I'm actually proud of our record," said coach Bob Vilsoet, "because we've played such tough Division II teams."

Harper went 5-3 in tournaments at Wisconsin-Waukesha and COD last weekend. It lost its first meeting with Rock Valley 19-30, 28-30 as Lisa LaMasse had 7 kills and Nikki Maize had 11 digs and 15 assists.

"The good news is we played well against good competition," Vilsoet said. "The bad news is we got beat by Rock Valley."

But there is a chance the Hawks could see Rock Valley again this weekend at the College of Lake County tournament.

One key is staying healthy, as they lost Diane Janik for two weeks and have other players battling shoulder trouble. Losing Janik, who was 21st in the nation in digs per game at 4.29, also hurts Harper's need to improve its serve receive.

LaMasse is first in the nation in total blocks (43), sixth in blocks per game (1.05) and ninth in kills. Maize is third in the nation in assists (313) and 10th in assists per game and fifth in total digs (184) and 16th in digs per game.

"There is some kind of glue or cohesion this team has," Vilsoet said, "that causes them to be good and better as a team than as individuals."

Gearing up: Harper women's soccer won its second in a row, 3-1 over South Suburban. Corinne Hooper and Sam Witzcak led a solid defensive effort.

Now the Hawks (2-1) face their biggest rival at College of DuPage on Wednesday.

"I was really happy with it, but our biggest challenge will be Wednesday," said coach Dwayne Cruz. "It's an opportunity to test ourselves and see where we are and what we need to do to get to the Region final."

The men's soccer team (0-3-1) suffered its third 1-goal loss, 2-1 to Elgin Community College. Miljan Vukovic had the Hawks' goal.

On the run again: The cross country teams returned to action after two weeks between meets. The men took fourth and the women were sixth at the Waubonsee Invitational.

Jesus Escareno (28:19.7) and Tim Hoskinson (28:24.1) finished 2-3 for the men and Matt Damhauser (29:54.3) was 12th. Tony Russo took 27th (31:06.9).

Tabitha Thomas (21:16.4) took fifth and Heather Cebeilko (21:49.8) was 10th for the women. Rachel Russo, who had never run competitively before, was 31st in 26:29.8.

"I thought they ran great," said coach Dan Delahunt. "Everybody's effort was great and the times will drop as the season goes on."

Harper will see a lot of NCAA Division I competition today in a meet at Illinois State University.

"It's good for the kids to see that type of talent," Delahunt said.