Palatine, Wheeling aim to do more this season

Ending lengthy football playoff droughts last season was a nice step for Palatine and Wheeling.

But the Pirates and Wildcats were thinking about taking bigger and better steps as high school football practice officially started across the state Wednesday.

"I really don't feel satisfied with what we did last year," Wheeling senior wide receiver James Kurtz said of giving eventual Class 7A state champion Lake Zurich a late scare in he first round of the playoffs. "There's an uproar this year to do something in the playoffs."

Palatine won its first postseason game since 1997 last year but in the 8A second round suffered a 34-0 loss to perennial power Mount Carmel.

"A lot of the kids didn't like what happened against Mount Carmel," said Palatine coach Tyler Donnelly.

So much so that Donnelly said the next day, Steve Temple and other returnees from the secondary were coming in and asking what they needed to do to get faster.

Temple and senior running back Chris Norman said the offseason was more demanding as the Pirates worked toward their goal of a winning postseason record.

"After that game we said we could be that team next year that goes far in the playoffs," Norman said.

"We've got high expectations," said Palatine defensive lineman Brock Tenca.

"We want to extend what we did last year," said returning all-area middle linebacker Ryan Cortez.

Palatine did have an extended run of postseason success with 12 straight trips from 1986-97.

Wheeling has never put together consecutive playoff appearances.

"The question is what has this team accomplished and that's nothing," said Wheeling defensive coordinator Brian Hauck. "There is no last year. There only is what we will do."

What the Wildcats are doing is defending a share of the Mid-Suburban East title with Rolling Meadows. But they know they still have more to do to share the spotlight with the teams perceived as the elite in their division.

"It's a different role," senior safety Mike Zimmer said of Wheeling being a team people are gunning for. "But with Prospect and Rolling Meadows, still, if someone says the MSL you think of those teams.

"We were embarrassed by Palatine (27-0) and Rolling Meadows (35-6) so we still have chips on our shoulders. We know our business isn't finished and we have to keep working harder."

Wheeling coach Dave Dunbar saw exactly what he wanted in that regard - whether it was in workouts between summer camp and Wednesday or for the team's fundraiser.

It's all directed toward the goal of becoming a consistent playoff threat.

"When you look at the Prospects, the Buffalo Groves and the Rolling Meadows, over these years they've maintained," Dunbar said. "Each of them has had their ups and downs, but haven't had a low or the the lows as we've had here. We want to maintain and continue to improve."

Maintaining a balance between work and play is also important.

"We have to bring a lot of fun to the table," said returning quarterback Matt Holmes. "If you don't have a lot of fun you're not going to play at your peak."

Similar to Wheeling, teams will also have to produce peak performances now when they face Palatine.

And success has also piqued a lot interest in football at Palatine and Wheeling.

"There's more Palatine spirit now," said senior defensive back-receiver Jimmy LaCapra.

"People are way more excited for this season," said Palatine senior receiver Jamie Silveira.

A season where Palatine and Wheeling hope the excitement continues well into November.

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