What might have been … and could be

It's tough to point to one game and classify it as a cornerstone in the future of a high school football program.

A key game may define the season, but there's always a series of contributing factors that surround the most crucial event. As it goes, your record is what your record says.

So it is with West Aurora.

The Blackhawks' bid for their first playoff berth in 13 years came up 1 touchdown -- and hence, 1 victory -- short in a 14-7 loss to Glenbard North on Friday night.

Left in its wake was pain, heartbreak, disappointment and tears. Sports teaches tough lessons and illustrates the fine line between celebrating and commiserating.

One has to wonder what the impact might have been had West walked off triumphantly and was now preparing for its first playoff appearance since 1994.

Would there be long-term effects? Could a playoff season energize the program enough at all levels that West would be transformed into an annual contender?

Or will the crushing defeat sink all the good morale that was built?

We won't know the answers right away. But we will find out about the program's resiliency. And, in many ways, the devastating loss may prove to be a springboard in disguise.

West coach Buck Drach alluded to it during the postgame on Friday. As his players grieved, Drach spoke of how close the Blackhawks had come. A dropped pass here, a missed tackle there. One more yard. One more play. One less mistake.

"Little, bitty things," Drach said.

Like tiny pixels that create a big picture, they affect the quality when taken together. Making players understand the impact of those minute details could go a long way in helping West turn the corner next year with a strong returning class of juniors and an influx of talented sophomores.

By "little things," Drach wasn't only referring to game glitches on Friday nights. Maybe it was too many days off from the weight room. Or not reviewing the playbook that one extra time. Or maybe it was one of those times when a player skipped a practice -- or gave less than 110 percent while at practice.

Not a singular moment, but the cumulative effect of many moments. Taken as a whole, it's what often defines the razor-thin difference between victory and defeat.

"We got beat last summer; we got beat two weeks ago when a couple kids decided they needed to take practice off," Drach said. "Those kinds of things. We're not quite there yet. We're getting closer, but the kids have to realize it takes a lot of work to get there."

West's 4-5 finish marked a 100 percent improvement in the win column over last year's 2-7 record. But it was bittersweet. Drach held up his thumb and index finger, spaced one inch apart, to describe how close the team was to a playoff berth.

"The juniors we have coming back ... maybe they'll remember how close they came, and use it for motivation," Drach said.

• Shifting from the rear view mirror to the road ahead ....

Delicious irony: Can Geneva take a page from Batavia's book and write the next championship chapter for the Tri-Cities? Batavia's 2 wins over the Vikings last year helped push them to the Class 6A championship. Now the tables are turned. Geneva returned the regular-season favor with its 14-12 win Friday night. Does playoff payback await as well?

Just wondering: In the event that one team is eliminated, can a Batavia fan support Geneva in the playoffs, and vice versa? Or would that be sacrilege, along the lines of Cubs-Sox and Bears-Packers?

Up in the air: Aurora Christian coach Don Beebe says junior Jordan Roberts is as good as any quarterback in the state. Beebe will get no argument from the swarm of college scouts who monitor the prized QB. Can the Eagles make it translate into postseason success? Will the Eagles' marshmallow-soft schedule come back to haunt? Will AC have to hurdle defending Class 3A champion Plano on its way to Champaign?

Nice call, coach: Beebe also discounted the impact that he and his peers have once the whistle blows. "Coaching is overrated," Beebe said. "You have to have the players if you're going to win."

Cutting it close: Marmion was forced to sweat it out Saturday, awaiting official word from the IHSA. Unlike last year, however, the Cadets' 5-4 record (and 40 playoff points) were enough to qualify.

It would have been easier had the Cadets not slipped on a banana peel and lost to Aurora Central the week before. "We've been a Jekyll and Hyde team all season," coach Dan Thorpe said.

Saturday was a joyous, Jekyll kind of day for the Cadets. They'll have to bring out Mr. Hyde the rest of the way. Split personalities don't last long in the one-and-done playoffs.