Tiger mystique means nothing to Geneva
Wheaton Warrenville South puts on its football pants one leg at a time like everyone else.
Yet the Tigers are a program that, like Joliet Catholic, Mt. Carmel or Driscoll in its day, seems to own a mental edge before its opponent takes the field.
As the Tigers (9-1) hunt their ninth championship game appearance - five titles, three runners-up - the No. 2 seed in their Class 7A bracket is taking no prisoners.
Perhaps answering last year's unceremonious first-round loss to Downers Grove North at WW South's own Grange Field, the DuPage Valley Conference champ has decked its last two opponents by a cumulative 122-6 score, including last week's 61-6 romp over No. 7 seed St. Laurence.
"What I appreciate about our kids is they've gotten ready for every game since Maine South," said Tigers coach Ron Muhitch, noting WW South's one glitch. "We've had tremendous focus every single week no matter the opponent."
That will be the case in Friday's second-round game, because No. 3 seed Geneva (9-1) is approaching WW South's stratosphere.
In fact Vikings coach Rob Wicinski - on a 62-11 mark over six straight playoff seasons, including last year's Class 7A title-game loss to East St. Louis - claimed his players "don't know anything from anything" about the Tiger mystique.
"They've just got a lot more athletes than a lot of these other teams," Wicinski said. "They just keep running out athletes and athletes, then to have them well-coached, and the motor running, plus their confidence, it's just a real handful."
That describes WW South quarterback Reilly O'Toole. Protected behind stalwart offensive linemen Nick Immekus, Chris Cortopassi and Rocco Ammons, the junior now has the remarkable ratio of 22 touchdown passes to 0 interceptions. In his last five games O'Toole has 11 touchdowns and 10 incomplete passes.
"The odds are sure catching up with him," quipped Wicinski, who would have faced the Tigers in the 2007 playoffs had Geneva beaten East St. Louis in the quarterfinals.
Geneva bruisers like defensive tackles Frank Boenzi and Andrew Mariotti, fullback-linebacker Connor Quinn and tailback-safety Michael Santacaterina have taken great pleasure in grinding out mud-bowl victories on their way to a fourth straight Western Sun Conference title, but Muhitch was highly concerned over the potential of quarterback Brandon Beitzel.
The two-year starter's 10-of-18 passing in the 36-8 win over No. 6 Shepard, with touchdown passes to Quinn, Jack Delabar and sophomore Matt Williams, was Beitzel's third-most attempts this season.
"We'll have to be very quick defensively against their passing game," said Muhitch, armed with pass-rushing lineman Matt Ives and cornerback Shane Dierking. "Our biggest challenge will be defending the deep ball threat."
Geneva's biggest challenge may be handling WW South's defensive line slants and quickness, controlling the Tigers' back-breaking offensive plays.
"It's what playoff football's all about," Wicinski said. "We're really excited about the chance to play the best."