Naperville Central seeks to keep control

Ball control comes in different shapes and sizes.

Friday night's Class 8A playoff football opener between Naperville Central and Lockport is a perfect example.

While Redhawks quarterback Nick Linne looks to move the chains with an effective passing game, Lockport and punishing running back Dan Holman churn up the yardage and the clock on the ground.

Different styles, same goal.

"On paper it's pretty even," said Naperville Central coach Mike Stine. "The team that can control the ball the best is going to be in good shape."

Naperville Central (7-2), a fifth seed in Class 8A that will host a second straight game after debuting its new field last week, has its hands full against No. 12 Lockport (6-3), which boasts victories over Bolingbrook and Richards.

The Porters run a spread offense with quarterback Kyle Billig, but he and Holman, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound junior, rely on running the ball.

Depleted defensively, the Redhawks could return defensive back Paul Wirtz from a bout with mono. Linemen Alex Schaefer and Cam Brate lead a unit that surrendered 170 rushing yards in last week's loss to Glenbard North.

"We haven't played four great quarters yet," Stine said. "We've had some great moments, but we've also been bad at times."

The best counter may be Linne. He's completed 61 percent of his passes for 1,821 yards and 20 touchdowns and leads the team with 507 rushing yards. Receivers Hayden Daniels, Brent Zelinski and Brate have combined for 105 catches, 1,509 yards and 13 touchdowns.

If the Redhawks can balance the offense a bit with running backs Derek Jancik and Ben Murphy, they'll be in much better shape to keep the Porters' offense on the sideline.

Do that, and the Redhawks have a good shot at advancing to the second round for the first time since 2006.

"It may come down to which team is better at what it doesn't necessarily like to do," Stine said.