Two new faces ready to take their places in spotlight
There's nothing quite like a football player's first varsity start.
For Nick Linne and Matt Manade, though, this Friday night first even tops that.
The quarterbacks representing Naperville Central and Naperville North will make their Wes Spencer Cross-Town Classic debut at North Central College in front of a crowd of about 10,000 fans.
While both players have experienced plenty through five games this season, they ain't seen nothing yet.
"I played in the sophomore game last year," said Linne, Naperville Central's junior quarterback. "Once the fourth quarter rolls around the place is packed and going nuts. You really see what it's going to be like for the varsity game."
Linne and Manade, Naperville North's senior quarterback who started every junior varsity game last season, will have front row seats for this one.
Taking different paths to reach the same point, the two share much in common. Filling huge shoes, for example, is something they've both had to do.
Manade stepped in for graduated all-stater Jordan Tassio. All he did was lead the Huskies to last year's Class 8A state championship. Linne took the offensive reins from graduated Harrison Daniels, an All-Area pick last year who threw for 2,100 yards.
A daunting challenge, to say the least. As fierce competitors they welcomed it.
"It's tough following Tassio, but it's something I couldn't wait for," Manade said. "I had always been a starter before."
Sensing the opportunity at hand, Manade worked the entire off-season preparing for a defense of the Huskies' state title.
But during preseason practice a knee injury threatened his entire senior campaign. Rising to his feet awkwardly following a routine quarterback keeper, Manade felt his left knee lock up.
The injury - which prevented Manade from straightening the leg - required next-day surgery on a torn meniscus. When he awoke from the procedure the first thing he noticed was that his leg was straight again.
His next thought turned to a rapid return to the field.
"It was a dagger to the heart," Manade said. "It was just a freak accident. I knew I wasn't going to be ready for the season opener, but I looked at the next best thing - coming back for the (DuPage Valley Conference) opener."
Manade did come back for the DVC opener, taking over for sophomore Matt LaCosse. With three wins under his belt, Manade's ready for the Redhawks.
Linne's journey to his first Wes Spencer Classic actually began by spending his sophomore year competing on the varsity basketball and baseball teams. That experience made the transition to varsity football much easier.
"It hasn't really been that big of an adjustment," he said. "The speed of the game is definitely something to get used to, but I think playing two varsity sports as a sophomore really helped me."
A dual-threat quarterback, Linne has developed into one of the area's most athletic signalcallers. He's accounted for nearly 1,100 total yards and 9 touchdowns while completing 60 percent of his passes.
Manade runs the Huskies' double wing like a well-oiled machine. Even though the offense is run-dominated, he's still completed 70 percent of his 30 passes for 368 yards.
Combined they boast the most important statistic of all - a 90 percent winning percentage highlighted by Naperville North's 5-0 record.
It makes this chapter of the cross-town game that much more intriguing as two newcomers are welcomed to the big time.
"It's something I've really been looking forward to," Manade said. "I just want to show people what I can do."