Scouting: West Aurora @ Naperville N.

West Aurora (2-1, 0-1)

at Naperville N. (2-1, 0-1)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. today

Last year: Naperville North 48, West Aurora 12.

Last week: Naperville Central 41, West Aurora 19; Glenbard North 21, Naperville North 0.

Outlook: From DuPage Valley Conference frying pan to fire go the Blackhawks, who get a Naperville North team that, although banged up, will be hopping mad after taking its first shutout loss since Week 7 of the 2001 season when Naperville Central beat the Huskies 35-0. This year's Naperville Central squad capitalized on the height advantage of its receivers over West Aurora defensive backs, as West Aurora coach Buck Drach knew it would, and led 21-0 before Leon Spears went 93 yards over left tackle for a touchdown. The 5-foot-9, 170-pound Spears now has run for 435 yards and 6 touchdowns. High-flying receiver Aviance King scored twice on Naperville Central, on Malcolm Wood tosses good for 76 and 6 yards; King has 9 catches for 283 yards, 5 touchdowns. The Blackhawks welcome the return from injury of fullback Tray Peoples and defensive tackle Fetim Azimi, and they'll need all hands against the Huskies. Headed defensively by the experienced linebacker trio of Arnas Gintautas, Jack Krejci and Nick Lifka and defensive lineman Evan Prendergast, Naperville North is highly aggressive. So was Glenbard North, which knocked out defensive lineman Blex Vixama, running back Jon Ryan and quarterback Matt LaCosse; the latter is questionable for tonight. Drach hopes the Blackhawks can reduce inopportune penalties and otherwise high-grading linemen Matt Gorges, Zach DuSell, Mike Kim and Cal Wagner can smooth over inconsistencies in picking up blitzes and give Wood time to throw. "We're getting closer, we've just got to kind of keep stringing it together, putting it together," Drach said. "It's the DVC. That says it all."

Next Week: Wheaton North (2-1) at West Aurora, Sept. 25; Wheaton Warrenville South (2-1) at Naperville North, Sept. 25.