WW South routs West Aurora
Wheaton Warrenville South couldn't go into the postseason on a much higher note.
The Tigers, who had already clinched a playoff berth heading into Friday evening's game, finished the regular season with a dominating 61-0 home win over West Aurora. They committed no turnovers despite a persistent windswept drizzle, put up 48 points before halftime, ran for more than 270 yards and clinched the DuPage Valley Conference title outright in the process.
A crowd of players held the conference plaque high at midfield after the game, chanting "DVC! DVC!" as they celebrated one more milestone in an impressive season.
"Our major goal tonight was to get a good, solid score going into halftime and give our seniors a chance to play the whole second half," said senior quarterback-turned-receiver Mack Tracey, who ran in a pair of first-half touchdowns. "This is definitely a better feeling coming off last year's last game. We're sky-high and going in to next week with a lot of confidence."
Tracey's flashback referred to the disappointing end to 2008, when the Tigers had an undefeated season until they lost the regular-season finale to Naperville North and then exited the playoffs with a surprising 8-7 loss to Downers Grove North in the first round a week later. WW South coach Ron Muhitch hopes Friday's smothering victory sets a better tone this time around.
"We didn't end last year the way we wanted with the loss to Naperville North," Muhitch said. "It will be fun entering the playoffs with this kind of finish." The Tigers (8-1 overall, 7-0 DVC) certainly looked to be clicking on all cylinders Friday, opening the scoring just two and a half minutes into the game with a 38-yard pass from Reilly O'Toole to Dan Hohenstein. They were up 20-0 by the end of the first quarter as Tracey and Matt Rogers each ran in for a score.
Rogers finished with 3 touchdowns and 169 yards rushing, all before halftime. Tom Olp added a second-quarter touchdown, and the Tigers reserves didn't let up in the second half.
Andrew Horten ran in from 6 yards out, and Travis Kern pulled in a 27-yard pass from third-string quarterback Ryan Crowe. Five different receivers caught passes in the game, a hallmark of WW South's balanced offense.
The Blackhawks (3-6, 1-6) could celebrate star senior running back Leon Spears reaching 1,000 rushing yards for the season, but not much else. West Aurora coach Buck Drach lamented his team's inability to compete in the DVC this year, compounded in recent weeks by a rash of injuries.
"Definitely, we were pretty beat up," Drach said. "It kind of took our defense apart a little bit. We can't stop anyone, and it makes it a long night."
The Tigers will be back on their home field next weekend to open the postseason, and Muhitch said he's hoping for a Friday night game. In addition to his team's good rhythm, it will also get speedy running back Julian Banuelos back from injury this week, which Muhitch said will put the team "at full strength," and hopefully set it up for a long playoff run.
"It will be fun to be here," Muhitch said. "Playing your best football at the end of the year is what a coach wants."