Naperville North, Homewood-Flossmor have been here before

Even though Naperville North and Homewood-Flossmoor embarked on new eras within their football programs this season, both sides find themselves looking back.

History has been kind to Naperville North (8-3) and the Vikings (9-2) in the brief but significant past they share. They'll add to the legacy in a Class 8A quarterfinal game at 7:30 p.m. today in Naperville.

"We've had some wild games against them," said Huskies coach Sean Drendel. "This should be another good one."

Two years after Naperville North won its first state title, the Huskies met Homewood-Flossmoor in the Class 6A title game in 1994. The Vikings won that meeting 13-12 in a game still remembered by both sides.

Drendel had graduated from Naperville North a few years earlier, but as a senior at Eastern Illinois University the former Huskies standout made the trek to Normal to watch the heartbreaking loss.

He didn't expect it at the time, but Drendel eventually wound up back on Naperville North's sideline.

"I was just another fan in the stands that day," he said. "I had absolutely no aspirations of being a coach at that point."

Thirteen years later Drendel, who became the team's defensive coordinator under now-retired head coach Larry McKeon, and the Huskies got some payback by downing the Vikings 20-8 in the Class 8A semifinals. The next week Naperville North beat Glenbard North to claim the program's second state title.

The teams also met in the regular season in 2003 and 2004, with Naperville North winning both meetings by a combined margin of 70-35.

Heading into tonight's quarterfinal showdown, however, everything in the past is a history lesson. This year's seniors were freshmen in 2007, and both teams have new head coaches.

This season Drendel took the helm from McKeon, while Craig Buzea took over at Homewood-Flossmoor. Both teams have responded strongly.

Naperville North is in the quarterfinals for the first time since its state title run three years ago. The Vikings, recovering from a 1-8 record last season, are back in the playoffs for the first time since being knocked out by Naperville North in 2007.

With a berth in the semifinals hanging in the balance, another piece of history awaits the winner of tonight's game.

"I think it's definitely a big game for both of us, they're going to be tough to beat," Drendel said. "They pose some problems for us, but we're going to try and keep this going."