Red-hot St. Charles East eyes 8th straight victory

After Geneva's overtime win against Kaneland on Oct. 16, the Vikings coaches were congratulating one another when a coach with a cell phone suddenly exclaimed, "Mike won again!"

That's St. Charles East coach Mike Fields, who led the Saints to the Upstate Eight Conference title, unbeaten at 7-0, after a decade as an integral part of the Geneva program.

Leading No. 8 seed St. Charles East into its fifth straight postseason Saturday against another 7-2 club in Class 7A, No. 9 seed Rockton Hononegah, Fields has translated lessons he learned in a decade at Geneva - the first three years as Rob Wicinski's varsity assistant, the last seven as head sophomore coach with a record of 49-15-1 - just a little further northeast.

"Those guys have been great," Fields said of a mutual admiration society that includes the one former Geneva coach who emigrated along with Fields, Saints running backs coach Paul Snoply.

"They've wished me all the luck in the world," Fields said. "I've run into them a couple times after games, had a soda, and they were just so excited about us winning - and me for them. What a great compliment for the program that I'm able to take what I learned at Geneva and bring it to St. Charles East."

It was Snoply who added what Fields called the ultimate compliment.

"You have not changed one bit," Snoply told him.

"I'd like to think I've stayed pretty true to that (mentality)," said Fields, who promoted Brian Teresinski - the sole varsity assistant who remained after former Saints coach Ted Monken went to Metea Valley - to defensive coordinator from defensive line coach.

"You treat young men with respect, and when you give respect you get respect," Fields said.

St. Charles East will certainly respect Rockton Hononegah, the NIC-10 squad that matched the Saints' five playoff foes but whose double-wing offense exactly doubled St. Charles East's average of 18.3 points a game.

Time and again St. Charles East's defense has arisen after an 0-2 start against Geneva and Naperville North - middle linebacker Phil Bucaro leads the unit with 58 tackles, followed by safety Bryce Barry with 54 and linebacker Sam Leopardo with 48 - but Fields prefers a hasty end to offensive "breakdowns" that diminished scoring to 28 points in the last three games.

"It's just the little things," Fields said. "We've been very fortunate to make plays when we've needed them, but if we were more consistent with our plays I think it'd help the defense out. Even if we could just put 14 points on the board."

Signs looked good earlier this week. Fields just finished a practice session he said was perhaps the best of the season.

"They were just so lively, getting after it, and I just loved their attitude," he said. "I'm just so proud of it."