Wheaton Warrenville South the focus of DVC
The DuPage Valley Conference champion hasn't been decided yet.
It just kind of feels like it.
Few teams in recent memory have entered the DVC football season as heavily favored as Wheaton Warrenville South is this year. The conference still will be one of the state's strongest, but the defending Class 7A champion Tigers are definitely considered the class of the typically talented field.
"I see it as Wheaton South and then everyone else is going to be playing for second," said Wheaton North coach Joe Wardynski. "I think this is going to be the best team they've had in a long time. It's going to be hard for anyone to beat them."
Eight starters return for the Tigers, a list that powerfully begins with quarterback Reilly O'Toole. Committed to the University of Illinois, last season O'Toole completed 62 percent of his passes for 2,111 yards and 24 touchdowns against only 3 interceptions.
With running back Matt Rogers, who rushed for 856 yards, and Kansas-bound lineman Luke Luhrsen, the offense should be electric. The Tigers again will be stout defensively with lineman Will Davis, linebacker Jack Eshleman and safety Caleb Bednarz.
"There's a lot of talent in the conference that will warrant a possible upset," said WW South coach Ron Muhitch. "I think a lot of teams will be battling for that top spot."
WW South and Naperville North have won every DVC title since 2003, and the Huskies should be a top challenger this season. Longtime defensive coordinator Sean Drendel is now the head coach after Larry McKeon retired at the end of last year.
Naperville North returns eight starters including two of the DVC's top players. Quarterback Matt LaCosse committed to the University of Minnesota while linebacker Nick Lifka is headed to Boston College.
"We weren't too happy with the way we played in the conference last year," said Drendel, whose team finished fifth. "Our guys want to bounce back this season."
Naperville Central graduated all-conference quarterback Nick Linne but All-Area receiver Hayden Daniels, who caught 52 passes for 815 yards and 7 touchdowns, slides over to quarterback in a return to the position he played as a sophomore. Daniels also will play some receiver, which will allow Ian Lewandowski to see time behind center.
Wheaton North surged into the Class 7A quarterfinals last year by winning four straight games. Quarterback Reece Butler, who threw for 990 yards and rushed for 497, returns along with all-DVC receiver Richard Finley and lineman Rafe Kiely.
Glenbard North always boasts one of the DVC's most powerful running games, and this season is no different. Not only do the Panthers return all-DVC running back Evin Natick, who rushed for 1,256 yards and 15 touchdowns, they also bring back junior Phil Jackson, who added 407 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Third-year starting offensive lineman Paul Wisniewski returns, although the Panthers graduated the rest of last year's dominant line. Only four starters return overall for the Panthers.
"We've got a lot of positions we need to fill," said Glenbard North coach Ryan Wilkens. "We need a lot of guys to step up."
Glenbard East must recover from the graduation of three-year quarterback Jack Merrithey, and West Aurora has a similar hole to fill with the graduation of running back Leon Spears, last year's co-offensive most valuable player in the DVC. With 14 returning starters West Chicago seeks improvement in its second year under coach Paul Reinke.
"I think we're all ready to take a step forward this season," Reinke said.