Matching last season's success won't be easy, but don't rule it out
Time for a two-minute drill as 17 DuPage County football teams enter Round 1 of the playoffs this weekend.
D-V-C, D-V-C!
Can the DuPage Valley Conference do it again?
Naperville North, the defending Class 8A champion, Glenbard North and Wheaton Warrenville South each advanced to state title games last season. All eyes will be watching to see if the DVC can repeat the feat with its five qualifiers - last year's three finalists, Naperville Central and Wheaton North.
It's the same crew as 2007 and, like last year, everything hinges on the draw.
Three of the teams face rugged first-round road games. In 8A Glenbard North's at Loyola and Naperville Central's at Mt. Carmel as the DVC goes head-to-head with another of the state's top conferences, the Chicago Catholic Blue. In 7A Wheaton North travels to unbeaten Glenbard West.
The upper bracket of Class 8A, with Glenbard North, appears stronger than ever anchored by unbeaten Bartlett and Maine South. Glenbard West, St. Rita and East St. Louis power the lower bracket of 7A along with WW South.
The DVC - dangerous as ever - has an interesting few weeks ahead of it.
S-C-C, S-C-C!
Can the Suburban Catholic Conference do it again?
For only the second time all four DuPage County SCC teams qualified for the playoffs. Three past state champs - Driscoll, Montini and Immaculate Conception - join a surprising St. Francis squad that nearly forged a share of the conference title.
Spread among three classes, the possibilities are intriguing. Immaculate Conception, the 2002 3A champion, dropped to 2A this season. Montini, top-seeded in 5A, has a very nice draw.
St. Francis has a more difficult 5A path but the most vulnerable SCC team may be seven-time defending state champion Driscoll. Should the Highlanders, the third-smallest school in 4A, win their first two games they'll likely run into unbeaten top seed Aurora Christian and record-breaking quarterback Jordan Roberts.
After its seven-year run, though, no one should make the mistake of doubting Driscoll. Or the SCC in general.
Book it
Montini leads DuPage County with 16 straight playoff appearances. Naperville North and Downers Grove South are close behind with 12 straight.
Who, though, is best in the first round?
Of the area qualifiers with at least 10 appearances, WW South has the highest first-round winning percentage at .895. Something's got to give, though, because the Tigers' 7A opponent is Downers Grove North, which has a .786 winning percentage.
Driscoll, with the longest area streak of 10 straight first-round wins, has an overall percentage of .882. Naperville North has won 81 percent of its playoff openers.
Class off the classes
Five players to watch in Class 8A: Maine South quarterback Charlie Goro, Naperville North running back Nick Mlady, Glenbard North quarterback Evan Watkins, Downers Grove South running back Scottie Williams and Bartlett linebacker Kyle Zelinsky.
Five players to watch in Class 7A: East St. Louis wide receiver Kraig Appleton, East St. Louis receiver Terry Hawthorne, Geneva running back Michael Ratay, Wheaton North running back Mike Trumpy, Glenbard West offensive lineman Chris Watt.
Walking wounded
Five area players' health status to watch: Glenbard North running back Tyler Doll (ankle), WW South receiver Mack Tracey (wrist), Wheaton North's Trumpy (hamstring), Glenbard West's Watt (ankle) and Hinsdale Central running back Rich Zajeski (ankle).
Familiar field
Thirteen of DuPage County's 17 qualifiers are back from last season's playoff field. Downers North and Lisle last made the postseason in 2006 while Immaculate Conception and St. Francis were 2005 qualifiers.
Welcome back.