Wheaton North living on the edge

The edge never looked so good to Wheaton North's football team.

For a solid month the Falcons have played nail-biting games, the last three just to keep their season alive. In the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2002, there's a definite buzz around the program.

"The last few games - win or lose - they've all been exciting," said Falcons coach Joe Wardynski. "Our guys have been in four tight games in a row, and they've responded four straight times."

On the heels of its first-round upset win over previously unbeaten Rockford Boylan, 15th-seeded Wheaton North (6-4) hits the road again to take on No. 10 Prospect (8-2) at 7 p.m. Saturday for a spot in the Class 7A quarterfinals.

The Falcons face one of the state's top playmakers in Prospect quarterback Miles Osei. The third-year starter has thrown for 1,921 yards and rushed for 1,114 while accounting for 34 touchdowns.

Keeping Osei in check won't be easy, but Wheaton North is playing some of its best defense of the season. Last week linebacker Ryan Coleman notched 13 tackles while defensive back Justin Swider picked off a pass and recovered a fumble.

"He's pretty darn good," Wardynski said of Osei. "He's a complete package with everything he does for them."

Wheaton North's offense counters with junior quarterback Reece Butler, who flashed his own play-making abilities by throwing for 140 yards and rushing for 87 last week. All-DuPage Valley Conference receiver Richard Finley grabbed 8 catches for 76 yards.

The Falcons' best strategy for containing Osei is keeping him off the field with a running game that needs to be more consistent.

If they accomplish that goal, they may just have another thriller on their hands.

"It's been a while since we've won in the playoffs," Wardynski said. "The key now is that we don't want them to be satisfied."