For WW South, it's only just begun
Wheaton Warrenville South's football team emerged from its brutal nonconference schedule with a 1-1 record following last week's 27-9 loss at defending Class 8A state champion Maine South.
Combined with a Week 1 win over Hinsdale Central, last year's 8A runner-up, Tigers coach Ron Muhitch had mixed feelings about his team's early performance.
"It was a good experience for us," he said. "We're heading into a tough stretch here, so that made it worthwhile."
The road remains rugged as the DuPage Valley Conference slate begins for the Tigers. They face Glenbard East, Naperville Central and defending DVC champion Naperville North - all unbeaten teams - leading up to a Week 6 game against cross-town rival Wheaton North.
The inexperienced Tigers continue to mature on the fly. The senior class went unbeaten through 26 lower-level and varsity games until last year's loss to Naperville North in the regular-season finale.
After a playoff loss to Downers Grove North and the two games to start this season, however, WW South has lost three of its last four games. A program not accustomed to losing streaks aims to get back to the business of winning.
"I'll be honest with you, I don't think I've suffered a loss like that Maine South game," Muhitch said. "They beat us in every phase of the game. We need to turn things around quickly."
Naperville Ironman: Naperville Central tight end Cam Brate ran his route fearlessly across the middle, caught the pass from Nick Linne and was drilled by a Neuqua Valley defender.
The ball rattled out when he hit the ground, but the officials ruled it a catch. Brate's reward? A crucial first down he could barely remember.
Brate, stunned at first, stayed in the game and later caught the game-winning 4-yard pass in the Redhawks' 21-17 come-from-behind victory last Friday.
All in a day's work for one of the hardest working young men in high school football.
"I had the ball and all of a sudden I felt like I got hit by a train," Brate said. "I'm just glad they ruled that a catch. That was big for us."
Nothing Brate accomplishes on the field for Naperville Central is small. That's the main reason why he rarely - if ever - leaves the field.
Crucial to the offense, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound senior also plays special teams and has developed into an impact player on the defensive line. Quarterback pressure from Brate and others was critical to Naperville Central's rally from a 17-0 halftime deficit.
"I attribute that to the seniors," Redhawks coach Mike Stine said of the rally. "We have a great group of seniors. Cam Brate didn't hardly come off the field in the second half. He's special."
As for the extra effort, Brate wouldn't have it any other way.
"In the second half I'm pretty sure I played every play...I'm exhausted right now," Brate said after the Neuqua Valley game. "But I loved it."
Many happy returns: Anyone going to Friday's Marmion-St. Francis game will want to be there for the opening kick. Returning them is one of St. Francis' most potent weapons.
Last week Mark Schmitt got the Spartans rolling to a 2-0 start by returning DeKalb's kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown. That led to a 42-0 landslide.
In St. Francis' season debut Kevin Fassnacht returned the opening kick 92 yards for a touchdown in the defending Class 5A champions' 35-7 win over Yorkville.
That was the second straight year St. Francis started a season returning a kick all the way. Last year against Yorkville, Ryan O'Donnell returned one 90 yards in a 40-0 rout.
Spartans kickoff return coach Mike Flaherty definitely has it going on. Over the last two seasons St. Francis has returned six kickoffs for touchdowns.
Odds obviously are against returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown in three straight games, but Marmion won't be too eager to defer if it wins the coin toss.
Last season Marmion scored a late touchdown to take a lead on the Spartans. Cadets coach Dan Thorpe directed his kicker to drill the ball out of bounds rather than risk a big play. No dice, though, as O'Donnell corralled the football and ran it all the way back with 1:08 left to help send the game into overtime. St. Francis won 34-32.
"I'm sure they won't be letting us return one this year," Purnell said.
The waiting: The artificial surface on York's stadium field is complete, but the track surrounding the field still needs to be finished. It's a disappointment for the Dukes, who were forced to move tonight's West Suburban Silver game against Oak Park to Elmhurst College.
"Right now we're just waiting on the track," said Dukes coach Bill Lech. "It looks great, it's just a shame we're not able to get on it."
The track surface takes about three weeks to cure, which means the earliest York will play on the new field will be the Lyons Twp. game on Oct. 2 in Week 6. That's also homecoming for the Dukes.
Bragging rights: The West Suburban Conference played its first round of division crossovers last week, and the Silver swept the Gold in all seven games.
The average margin of victory was 17 points. Although the closest score was Hinsdale Central's 37-26 win over Proviso East, the final was deceiving because the Red Devils led 30-0 in the third before pulling their starters.
"The talent in each division is cyclical, but I can't remember our division not winning a game against the Silver," said Downers South coach John Belskis.
The most-anticipated crossover was Glenbard West's game against Downers South on Saturday, a showdown won 27-14 by the Hilltoppers.
The weekend proved decisive in the Silver's favor, but there's still a healthy respect for the Gold.
"We came away with the win," said Glenbard West coach Chad Hetlet, "but Downers South is the best 0-2 team in the state of Illinois. That's a real good team."