It's early yet, but Huskies have state title look

This (title) defense will never rest.

Not with a sophomore quarterback thrust into the starting role, and not with only one returner on the other side of the ball.

As Naperville North coach Larry McKeon said Friday night, the Huskies aren't the same team that hoisted the Class 8A title trophy last November.

At least not yet.

The starting point for defending that title came at home against rival Neuqua Valley and, similar to last season, the Huskies rolled to a 41-19 victory.

No matter how it looked, it wasn't easy. And it won't be the rest of the season.

Senior quarterback Matt Manade sat with a knee injury, so sophomore Matt LaCosse and the Huskies put a definite focus on running out of the double wing.

It worked to the tune of 374 rushing yards - including 147 by Pat Waite and 99 by Nick Mlady - behind an experienced line featuring three returning starters.

They expected to perform on the ground, but they never expected this.

"We started running the plays we wanted to run and it just started clicking," said Arizona-bound tackle Jake Baratz. "We knew we were going to run a lot, but we didn't expect to rush for this many yards."

As for LaCosse, his debut proved seamless as could be. He completed 6 of 12 passes for 149 yards and actually found time to enjoy himself after the nerves settled - especially after he began the scoring with a 7-yard run.

"I wasn't talking to many people today, I was that nervous," said LaCosse, who will start until Manade's likely return in three weeks, according to McKeon. "But after that first hit I felt fine."

There weren't many highlights for Neuqua Valley, although a punt block by Owen Larson turned into a 33-yard return for a touchdown by Will Konovsky.

But after that play tied the game at 7-7 in the first quarter, the Wildcats couldn't build on their brief burst of momentum.

"We certainly didn't expect what we got," said Neuqua Valley coach Bryan Wells. "We had our opportunities to make plays, but we didn't take advantage. We've got to do a better job on offense and defense."

McKeon likely felt the same way on the Huskies' sideline. It certainly wasn't perfection as 13 penalties for 123 yards attest.

But a defense that returns only Tim Weidenbacher as a starter performed admirably. The Huskies allowed 167 yards, forced and recovered a fumble. Pat Bassett intercepted a pair of passes.

It helped Naperville North break out to a 41-7 fourth-quarter lead before the Wildcats' Nathaniel Pena, who rushed for 80 yards, scored on a 38-yard run and Alex Lincoln threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Conner Yearian.

Too much Waite, Mlady and general offensive dominance made it matter little, though. Waite led the way with 3 touchdowns while Mlady added 2 scores.

It may not have been Champaign, but the Huskies still had plenty of reason to celebrate.

kschmit@dailyherald.com