Huskies can't relax yet
The second round of the football playoffs hasn't been kind to Naperville North in recent years.
It also hasn't been easy.
After first-round victories the Huskies lost to eventual state champion Lockport in 2002, semifinalist Wheaton Warrenville South in 2004 and state runner-up Mt. Carmel last year.
Because of the stinging matchups, Naperville North failed to make the quarterfinals six straight years after advancing that far in 10 of the previous 14 seasons.
"Our second-round games have been extremely difficult," said Huskies coach Larry McKeon. "I think we're a better team this year and that's helped us get this far."
The second-round struggles behind them, the second-seeded Huskies (10-1) look for quarterfinal magic in tonight's Class 8A showdown against No. 6 Lincoln-Way East (9-2) in Frankfort. The Griffins have made the playoffs in each of their seven years of varsity play and claimed the 2005 Class 8A state championship.
Lincoln-Way East, which suffered regular-season losses to Bolingbrook and Sandburg, re-energized itself after a late-season quarterback switch. Junior Spencer Stanek responded with 3 touchdown passes in last week's 43-14 win over Neuqua Valley.
The Griffins also continue to pound the running game with Lloyd Burchett and Dan Cebula, the program's career rushing leader. That duo ran for 100 yards apiece by halftime against Neuqua Valley.
It presents quite a challenge to the Huskies, who surprisingly cruised to a 37-14 win over Bolingbrook last week. While run stuffers Kyle Lackner, the DuPage Valley Conference's defensive lineman of the year, Dave Salutric and Bryan Bailin confront their responsibilities, defensive backs Ben Kelsey and Dan Hess aim to shore up the pass defense.
Lincoln-Way East's offense hasn't been flashy, but it's effective. The Griffins have hit the 40-point mark three times this season.
"They play very physically and disciplined on both sides of the ball," McKeon said. "They know exactly what their responsibilities are."
Naperville North's offense dominated on the ground last week behind a powerful line led by all-DVC pick Ben Domyancic. The Huskies rolled up 365 rushing yards, including Nick Mlady's 227 yards -- an impressive number considering the balanced double-wing set.
After not needing to pass much against Bolingbrook, McKeon knows his team will need passing success against a similar eight-man front schemed by an always-solid Lincoln-Way East defense.
Do-it-all Huskies quarterback Jordan Tassio, the DVC's offensive player of the year, will guide the pass attack with talented receivers Tom Costantino and Alex Dieckmann.
It's another difficult matchup, but it's nothing new for Naperville North.
"It's different guys stepping up each week for us," McKeon said. "That's the kind of effort we'll need again in this one."