Neuqua focuses on task at hand

It's one more weeklong season for Neuqua Valley.

After holding off Wes Allen and St. Charles East in a 49-42, four-overtime victory - "I never thought I'd be happy to hold a running back to 260 yards and 6 touchdowns," Wildcats coach Bryan Wells said Wednesday - playoff-seeking Neuqua Valley entertains the undefeated Upstate Eight Conference leader, Bartlett.

"We're playing well at the moment," Wells said of his 3-3 Wildcats. "Even still, we don't want to have a letdown coming off a big win. But we're determined that we're focused on what is now our third straight three-day season."

He means there is no time like the present. Not after a Week 4 loss to Waubonsie Valley left Neuqua 1-3 with tough St. Charles East, Bartlett and St. Charles North still on the schedule.

Since that loss, the defense "has gotten it done when it's had to," Wells said, citing linebacker Pat Keeley's 16 tackles against St. Charles East, with a pass breakup on the game's last play.

The passing game has really clicked in the last three weeks, with quarterback Alex Lincoln enjoying his third straight game of at least 235 yards passing. He connected with Western Michigan-bound receiver Josh Schaffer for 4 touchdowns against St. Charles East, twice to Conner Yearian in overtime and Mike Camire for the game-winner.

Although both starting backs Nate Pena (calf/ankle) and Desmond Nolen (ankle) were out last week and may also miss Bartlett, senior Donovan Moreno stepped in with 104 yards rushing.

Performances like that - players simply executing their roles - may be the key to Neuqua's improvement.

"Someone willing to come in and do their 1/11th," Wells said, "and because he does that he contributes in a big way to a win."

Bartlett represents the best team Neuqua's faced since Naperville North in Week 1. Not that there's any looking back, or ahead, for the Wildcats.

"We want to be 1-0 this season," Wells said.

Dynamic duo: In nearly 30 years as Addison Trail's football coach, Paul Parpet can't remember performances like he saw last Friday.

Two of his running backs - senior Mike D'Ambrose and junior Frank Cervantes - rushed for over 200 yards as the Blazers ran away for a 34-13 victory over District 88 rival Willowbrook.

"I definitely don't remember two guys going over 200 in the same game," Parpet said. "We've had some big individual performances, but nothing like this from two guys."

Each player carried the ball 19 times. D'Ambrose had 270 yards and 4 touchdowns while Cervantes had 202 yards, including a 75-yard scoring run.

The victory gave Addison Trail possession of the coveted District 88 Trophy. Following the lead of the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup tradition, Parpet is allowing each of his seniors to take the trophy home with them for a night.

Coming off a big loss to Glenbard West the week before, the Blazers are enjoying their moment of glory. Tonight they'll look to pull an upset of West Suburban Gold leader Downers Grove South.

"We had a tough loss, but we bounced back," Parpet said. "And that's the message. When you get knocked down, what are you going to do? Feel sorry for yourself? No, we bounced back."

Downhill running: Last we saw a photo of Glenbard West student Cole Rebora he was midair on skis, slicing through snow as a student at Crested Butte Sports Academy, a skiing, snow boarding and cross country intensive facility in Colorado. As a sophomore Rebora headed for the slopes just before Thanksgiving and stayed there training and competing until the ski season was over.

After Glenbard West's 48-6 football win over York a photo showed Rebora's alter ego, that of a running back being knocked down. He'd broken a jet sweep 46 yards down the sideline and was pushed out at the 1-yard line - though he thought he was in.

"I thought I could do some good stuff if I got the ball," said Rebora, who is among a long line of quality Hilltoppers backs, from starters Bryant Venson and Robert Cook to Adam Bruere, Steve Jones and Matt Hassan. Those five have all rushed for at least 200 yards.

"I got out in the open and I got a good block from a reliever so I started upfield," Rebora said. "I was kind of surprised that I was in the open field, so I just started running."

At 6-0 Glenbard West is destined for the playoffs. Rebora is planning to attend the invitation-only Western Sports Academy in Park City, Utah, to continue his training in freestyle, park and big mountain skiing. He figures to depart around Thanksgiving, but it all depends how far the Hilltoppers advance.

A guy who has his own personal skiing highlight video, Rebora said a skiing maneuver and a carry like he had against York are somewhat similar.

"It's like the excitement of when you land it," he said. "It's like, 'I survived the play and I'm feeling great.' "

The odd couple: If you're interested in the contrasts between Glenbard North and Glenbard East, look no further than their respective quarterbacks.

Glenbard North boasts 6-foot-6, 235-pound senior Evan Watkins, who is committed to Northwestern. Glenbard East, meanwhile, has 5-8, 145-pound junior Jack Merrithey.

Despite the difference of 10 inches and 90 pounds, both quarterbacks have brought success to their teams as they carry 3-3 records into tonight's DuPage Valley Conference game.

Unlike Watkins, who last season became a star during the Panthers' drive to the Class 8A title game, Merrithey is an unknown outside the DVC.

A varsity starter as a sophomore, his season was cut short because of a broken thumb. This year he's completed 55 percent of his passes for 712 yards and he's rushed for 393 yards while accounting for a total of 12 touchdowns.

"Every week he seems to make big plays for us," said Rams coach Dennis Lueck. "Somehow he finds a way to get the job done."