Wofford's big win is so sweet for Libertyville grad Norcia

So far, so good for the SoCon.

Is that nickname for the NCAA's Southern Conference not like, I don't know, so cool?

So what, you say?

Well, if you're a Libertyville football fan still reeling from the local boys not making the high school state playoffs for the first time in 11 years, here's proof that your program is still making an impact -- shoulder pad on shoulder pad.

Matt Norcia, star linebacker on the Wildcats' Class 7A undefeated state-championship squad in 2004, is starting at the same position for Wofford College, which is a win away from earning a share of the SoCon title.

That's hardly so-so.

That's because the SoCon boasts Appalachian State, which has won the NCAA Division I-AA national championship the last two years. That's the same "AppState" -- that's another so-cool nickname -- that shocked America on Sept. 1 by beating Michigan 34-32 at The Big House.

Three weeks later, Appalachian State came back to reality with a 42-31 loss to host Wofford at cozy Gibbs Stadium in Spartanburg, S.C., in a conference showdown pitting two schools whose names are often mispronounced.

For the record, it's app-uh-LATCH-in and WAW-ford.

"We were prepared," Norcia said. "We had a great scheme from the coaches. It was a hard-hitting game. We just didn't make any mistakes and pulled out the win. It was a big win."

Bigger than big.

You don't have to be a finance major like Norcia to know the smart money was on AppState to beat Wofford's Terriers.

Last year, Wofford was the smallest Division I-AA school in the country. After the Terriers pulled off the upset, their fans rushed the field.

"I'd say going into the game 9 out of 10 people would have picked us to lose," Norcia said. "It was a shocker, definitely, for us even. But we busted our butts all winter and summer, and we had a good scheme going into the game. We shocked a lot of people in the nation, I'd say. It was a big achievement for us. Even now, (Appalachian State) is one of the best teams in I-AA. They're so explosive."

Wofford's game against AppState happened to be Norcia's first collegiate start. His contributions included a tackle for loss.

He played primarily special teams as a true freshman and was the team's top reserve at outside linebacker last year. He started this season second string again, but when Kyle Horne hurt his foot, Wofford's coaches called on the speedy 6-foot, 210-pound Norcia, who's called "an excellent pass defender," in Wofford's media guide.

"It was pretty cool (starting for the first time)," Norcia said. "It was kind of nerve-wracking, but when it's time to step up, you step up and make plays. That's what you're there for. It was just a great game to make my first start. It was a huge game."

His parents, Jerome and Roberta, were even sitting in the stands and showing their support. They usually are.

"That was kind of cool to have them there," Norcia said.

Norcia had what he considers his best game so far last Saturday in the Terriers' 38-35 homecoming loss to Georgia Southern. His 8 tackles included 2 for loss and a sack.

Wofford (7-3, 4-2) has its regular-season finale Saturday when it visits Chattanooga (2-7, 2-3). If the Terriers win, they could forge a four-way tie for first place in the SoCon with Appalachian State, Georgia Southern and Elon.

Wofford would then be hoping to earn a playoff berth for the first time since Norcia's been there.

"Chattanooga definitely can't be overlooked," Norcia said. "They have a lot of athletes, transfers from Division I schools. They got potential. We just got to come out and play to the best of our ability and try to win this game, and then we'll see where it goes from there."

So be it.