Neuqua Valley stuns Waubonsie
Neuqua Valley senior T.J. Rhattigan wasn't too involved in the Indian Prairie Classic hype.
He had something more on his mind the road to the Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division championship.
"Waubonsie Valley, it's just another team that we're playing. Conference is pretty important for us," said the Wildcats' linebacker-running back.
"It was big, it was really important. But the win is the most important thing. Against any team."
Noses to the grindstone, Neuqua Valley worked over Waubonsie Valley for a surprising 43-6 victory on Friday at North Central College's Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in Naperville.
"We had kind of been sensing that we were just on the verge of busting loose and really playing a game like we used to play back in the day. And that was it here tonight," said Wildcats coach Bryan Wells.
Neuqua Valley (5-2, 3-1) improved to 9-3 in the series against district rival Waubonsie Valley (5-2, 3-1). It was the second-widest margin in the series following Neuqua's 63-21 win in 2004. The two schools join Bartlett each a half-game behind division leader South Elgin (4-1).
Rhattigan, who led Neuqua in rushing with 88 yards, scored on three 1-yard runs for a 21-0 lead after one quarter, and a 14-yard bounce outside following a safety when a punt snap went into Waubonsie's own end zone.
Vai Suliafu scored on a 4-yard run for a 37-0 halftime lead and Joey Rhattigan, T.J.'s sophomore brother, started a running clock on a 5-yard run at 5:59 of the third quarter. Neuqua Valley ran for 240 yards, more than Waubonsie's total of 171.
Warriors defensive tackle Devon Morgan heard coach Paul Murphy's postgame message loud and clear.
"He told us we need to practice at a championship pace," Morgan said. "We haven't been practicing like that. It's been kind of a lethargic, slow practice and we've got to pick it up this week."
Waubonsie remained without starting quarterback Tommy Kolzow, again lacking doctor's clearance to play from a Week 3 concussion. That was a minor frustration compared with the inability to capitalize on Neuqua first-half fumbles recovered by Tommy Wooten and Austin Lacke while Waubonsie lost 3 itself.
Neuqua Valley's Emilio Jimenez, Mike Festa and Alex Malandro each snared interceptions, adding to the snowball affect.
"It's one of those things that when you start getting something rolling things just start going your way, and it happened for us tonight," Wells said.
Waubonsie broke the shutout on Matt Schapen's 57-yard touchdown pass to Demetrius Gray with 2:34 left to play.
The bottom line for Waubonsie?
"That we're tied for first," Murphy said. "The season didn't end tonight. We've got two games to go, we still control our destiny. If we win out we'll be co-champs with somebody."