West Aurora's playoff drive is already in gear

This late into the season, it's rare to see West Aurora's football players and coaches chomping at the bit in their eagerness to get back to practice.

Not during the third week of October. Not during what's usually those go-through-the-motions days leading up to the final regular-season game.

Traditionally, when the fall leaves reach peak color, West Aurora's football season has already faded into pale oblivion.

Not so in 2007. In the wake of West Aurora's resounding, 48-27 victory over West Chicago on Friday that kept the team's playoff flame burning bright, the Blackhawks were tempted to keep the stadium lights on to start preparations right then and there for next week's showdown at Glenbard North.

"I'm ready to look at film and start practicing right now," said Markus Cocroft, still hyper-energized after his three-interception highlight of a night that included a TD return of 70 yards and a kickoff return of 87 yards that also went for a touchdown.

That wasn't all they were celebrating. Players, fans, coaches, cheerleaders and well-wishers whooped it up and exchanged high-fives in the Friday night afterglow as the school band played merrily in the background. Their collective spirit -- and the season, for all intents and purposes -- would have ended with a loss.

Instead, West Aurora is in a position to punch its own ticket to the playoffs for the first time since 1994.

The last time West Aurora played in the postseason, this year's seniors were in preschool, barely big enough to grip a football. Now they hold West Aurora's destiny in their own hands.

A victory at Glenbard North next Friday ends a 12-year drought, during which West Aurora has had more head coaches (3) than winning seasons (2).

West Aurora was in playoff position in 2004 but, shockingly, the Blackhawks were passed over despite their 5-4 record because their playoff "points" -- determined by the number of victories by your opponents -- didn't meet the standard that was unusually high that year.

That scenario likely won't repeat itself this season.

"We'll definitely have enough points," coach Buck Drach said.

But that's meaningless unless a victory is achieved. Between now and 7:30 p.m. on Friday, West Aurora's focus will squarely be on that looming obstacle in Carol Stream -- Glenbard North -- that's in exactly the same position as West Aurora. The Panthers -- 4-4 overall -- also face a must-win scenario to become playoff-eligible.

"That's our second playoff game right there," Drach said. "(Since last week), every game is a playoff game for us. The kids can play for as long as they want now. If you keep winning, you keep playing. It's that simple."

To hear the players, reaching the postseason is more than just leaving their own legacy. They're playing for those who came before them, and for those still to come.

Garrett Rivers, for one, would like to complete what brother Jeremy was denied as a member of the 2004 team.

"I'm playing for him and all the other teams that didn't make it," Rivers said. "Making the playoffs has been our goal since the beginning of the season and we've dedicated ourselves to getting there."

"We're playing for next year's team, too," senior Tim Soloff said. "We want to show everybody that West Aurora isn't just a pushover in the DuPage Valley Conference."

The seniors like Soloff don't really know if Friday was their final home game. At least the possibility still exists, unlike most years. And that's an exciting prospect, made possible by their do-or-die victory.

"We're really excited to finally be in this position," Soloff said. "Who knew? I don't think too many people outside this locker room predicted us to be in the playoff race. Before the (West Chicago) game, coach Drach told us it was one of the biggest games of our career. He asked if we were sick of always saying, 'Maybe next year.'

"We don't want to wait until next year. We want it this year. And it's up to us to get it."

Next Friday night will be akin to Super Sunday, West Aurora's equivalent of a Super Bowl. But don't expect there to be stage fright. To the contrary. The Blackhawks will be playing for themselves, their school, its history -- and a first-round playoff berth.

"We have a little confidence now," Drach said, "and that's something we haven't had here in a long time."

Converting their confidence into a crucial victory would bring a long-awaited reward.