Path to playoffs doesn't look easy for Naperville C.

It's never too early to start thinking about the football playoffs.

For teams like Naperville Central, the time is now.

"Every game is a playoff game for us," said Redhawks coach Mike Stine. "It's a battle every week."

Nonconference games for DuPage Valley Conference teams always loom as critical hurdles to five wins and a likely playoff berth. Six of the eight DVC teams went 2-0, but Naperville Central's 20-18 loss to Neuqua Valley in Week 2 pushed the Redhawks into conference play with a .500 record.

Finding four wins in the DVC won't be easy for the Redhawks as they chase an eighth straight playoff appearance.

Wheaton Warrenville South (3-0) is the heavy favorite to sweep through the DVC. Glenbard North (3-0) and Wheaton North (3-0), who meet this weekend, are also state-ranked teams. Naperville North (2-1), despite last week's loss to Glenbard North, again represents a huge cross-town test for the Redhawks.

Not only does Naperville Central have to beat Glenbard East and West Chicago, the Redhawks also must beat one of the DVC powers to keep the playoff streak alive.

"It's not an easy task, but that's how it's been for a while," Stine said. "I think that's why our conference is so successful. We just have to take it one week at a time."

Rock vs. Hard Place: Going in, teams know a game against Bartlett will be a physical battle.

The proof is in the week that follows.

Waubonsie Valley lacked six players for early-week practices after beating the Hawks on Friday, including quarterback Tom Kolzow (non-throwing shoulder), running back Jordan Johnson (hand), safety Trey Waldman (neck) and defensive linemen Derek Mickelson and Max Dempsey (ankles).

Tight end Mark Szott remains week-to-week with a thigh bruise from the season opener, while the others got cracked in the Warriors' 17-6 win over Bartlett.

"My AD (Mike Rogowski) said it was the hardest-hitting game he'd seen at Waubonsie Valley," said Warriors coach Paul Murphy.

"I think it's the old-school mentality that coach (Tom) Meaney brings to the program," Murphy said. "They're going to play hard-nosed football, and if you want to be able to compete against that you've got to bring it yourself."

Waubonsie Valley did that. Linebacker/rush end Tommy Wooten caused 2 fumbles himself and both Mickelson and defensive tackle Devon Morgan knocked balls loose as well.

"They didn't drop the ball, we jarred it out of them," Murphy said.

Waubonsie Valley took some pounding, got the best of Bartlett on the scoreboard and didn't come out empty-handed in the war of attrition.

"I know I saw a couple guys with slings on," Murphy said.

Rich getting richer: Wheaton Warrenville South is known for offensive playmakers such as quarterback Reilly O'Toole, running back Matt Rogers and receiver Titus Davis.

Perhaps the biggest playmaker this season, however, has been on defense.

Defensive back and return man Caleb Bednarz is dangerous every time he touches the ball, something he showed last week in a 49-0 win over Glenbard East.

Bednarz returned an interception 44 yards for a touchdown and returned a punt 73 yards for another score. The 5-foot-9, 150-pound senior would have notched a couple more scores but penalties nullified two punt returns for touchdowns. Had they stood up, Bednarz would have boasted 200 return yards on the game.

"It was just a phenomenal effort by him," said Tigers coach Ron Muhitch.

Bednarz, one of the team's fastest players, has been solid all season. He snared an interception in Week 2 against Maine South and returned a kick 90 yards to set up a touchdown to start the second half.

"He's fast, he's athletic, he's smart," Muhitch said. "He's had a really special start to the season."

Walking wounded: Lisle needs to be at full strength tonight to take on powerful Wilmington.

Unfortunately, the Lions may not be.

Anthony Ventrella, Nick Leonard and Pat Heatherly - not only the Lions' top running backs and fullback, respectively, but also the heart of the linebacker corps - all were banged up in Lisle's 21-13 win over Westmont. None of them practiced either Monday or Tuesday, Ventrella with a twisted ankle and the other two with back problems, Lions coach Dan Sanko said.

Ventrella scored 2 touchdowns against Westmont and Leonard ran in the first. Heatherly has gotten attention by opposing coaches for an ability to sniff out ball carriers that belies his size - 5-foot-9, 175 pounds.

"He's so slick," Sanko said of Heatherly, a senior two-year starter. "He finds ways to get to places he's not supposed to be."

Roll call: Listening to the second half of Northwestern's 37-3 win Saturday over Illinois State was like listening to an area all-star game.

By early in the third quarter there was little need for Wildcats starting defensive linemen Kevin Watt (Glenbard West) or Jack DiNardo (Hinsdale Central) to be out on the field. Backup quarterback Evan Watkins (Glenbard North) got lots of time running offense, including handing off to Mike Trumpy (Wheaton North) for Trumpy's first collegiate touchdown, a 1-yard run.

At that point Trumpy was running behind the likes of Colin Armstrong (Benet), Chuck Porcelli (Montini) and Neal Deiters (York). On the occasions Northwestern needed to punt, in came John Henry Pace (Hinsdale Central), the Wildcats' long-snapping specialist.

Family feud: Edge, Nudera. Specifically, York's Nudera.

When the Dukes faced Oak Park last week, senior quarterback Jimmy Nudera squared off against the Huskies and longtime coach Jim Nudera - otherwise known as "Dad."

York emerged with a 36-14 West Suburban Silver victory to stay unbeaten at 3-0. Nudera only threw the ball six times, but one was a long pass to Jordan Pruess to set up an early touchdown.

"That got our offense going and really settled him down," said York coach Bill Lech. "He really managed the game well."

Running back Ryan Kent again led the offense by carrying the ball 33 times for 205 yards and 3 touchdowns. While Kent and the running game continue to be the bread and butter for the offense, the Dukes will need Nudera's passing game to keep defenses off balance.

With family bragging rights on the line last week, Nudera came through. York's Nudera, that is.

"I think Jimmy was nervous but he got settled in pretty quickly," Lech said. "Once the game started I think the whole Nudera factor was an afterthought."