Newcomers learning to get physical in DVC

Three games into the season seems a fair amount of time to ask the coaches of the Indian Prairie School District 204 football teams what they think of their foray into the DuPage Valley Conference. To paraphrase Dennis Green, they are who they thought they'd be.

The consensus of Metea Valley coach Ben Kleinhans, Neuqua Valley coach Bill Ellinghaus and Waubonsie Valley coach Paul Murphy is, as they figured going in, there are no days off in this physical league.

“The thing that stuck out the most is each Friday night is going to be a four-quarter game, where every play, every down is magnified and really important. I think that's been evident in our first three games. You can't afford to waste a drive,” said Kleinhans, who has a win over Naperville North and losses to Naperville Central and familiar foe Neuqua Valley.

Kleinhans recalled the second half of Naperville Central's 27-7 win last Friday. The Redhawks scored 21 unanswered points after field position shifted due to a blocked punt, a long punt and an unsuccessful fourth-down conversion try by Metea.

Also, “We were 1 for 5 in the red zone, and that was kind of the difference,” said Kleinhans, noting motivational speeches are unnecessary to get players psyched in the DVC, which enters Week 4 with only Naperville Central still unbeaten.

Waubonsie's Murphy emphasized the physical nature of DuPage Valley Conference play. Murphy said “finesse” was sufficient to get past some Upstate Eight Conference opponents. Not here.

“They call the North Division of the NFL the ‘Black and Blue Division.' Well, you could call the DuPage Valley Conference the black and blue division of Class 8A football, I can tell you that,” he said.

With the intensity of the players' hitting, he said, “When they come back on Monday they're a lot sorer.”

The Warriors' early slate includes wins over former UEC rival Lake Park and new foe Glenbard North, and last week's loss to D204 rival Neuqua Valley.

The Wildcats are in an interesting space. After three weeks they've beaten familiar foes Metea Valley and Waubonsie Valley and have lost to Naperville Central, which they've played numerous times in nonconference games.

Neuqua's Ellinghaus looks at game scores to gauge the toughness. This is a league where 3-0 Naperville Central is averaging slightly fewer points, 18 a game, than 0-3 Naperville North at 18.7. Glenbard North trails only Naperville Central in points allowed at 11 per game, yet is 1-2.

“It's exactly what I thought it'd be, a battle every week, a playoff atmosphere every week. Week in and week out you have a tremendous battle up front with physical linemen on both sides of the ball. When I look at the DVC scores and the DVC schools that's what jumps out at me, it's a physical brand of football,” Ellinghaus said.

Neuqua averages a league-high 24.3 points. The coach won't count on that Friday at Wheaton Warrenville South, playing the Tigers for the first time in program history.

“Most are low-scoring affairs because you're beating each other up,” Ellinghaus said. “They're physical, tough defenses week in and week out, and when you're playing physical, Paul's right (about the “black and blue”). I wouldn't call the DVC a finesse conference right now, I would call it a big, physical, smash-you-in-the-mouth conference.”

Turf toes:

As much as Glenbard West coach Chad Hetlet loves playing at home, he and his players are eager to hit the road this weekend to play Downers Grove North.

After three weeks sinking in their muddy grass surface, the Hilltoppers are ready for some artificial turf.

“We're definitely looking forward to it,” Hetlet said. “I think we'll look a lot better than we have on our soft field.”

Don't get the wrong idea. Glenbard West enjoys a tremendous home-field advantage in Glen Ellyn. But Duchon Field's also an equalizer that slows down Hilltoppers speedsters like Vanderbilt-bound running back Sam Brodner.

The good news for Glenbard West, though, is that the offense already has shown tremendous versatility. Downhill running back Isaiah Skinner's rushed for 213 yards, and quarterback Brian Cochrane led Saturday's win over York by completing 12 of 13 passes for 185 yards and 3 touchdowns.

On a firm surface for the first time, expect the Hilltoppers to utilize their speed against Downers North.

“It should really help us,” Hetlet said. “It'll be a nice change of pace for us.”

The other shoe:

No DuPage County team has gotten off to a better start than Hinsdale Central, which improved to 3-0 with last week's Old Oaken Bucket win over Downers Grove North.

It's a good thing, too.

The Red Devils face York and Proviso West the next two weeks. After that they play Glenbard West, Lyons Twp., Hinsdale South and Oak Park — three unbeatens and a cross-town rival with a combined record of 11-1.

Hinsdale Central aims to attack that brutal final stretch with a 5-0 record.

“It's a meat grinder of a finish for us,” said Hinsdale Central coach Dan Hartman. “It's not going to be easy.”

The Red Devils have made it look pretty easy so far. They've outscored opponents by a margin of 125-41 behind quarterback Michael Sessa on offense and linebacker Matt Bradley on defense.

Challenging for the West Suburban Silver title is the goal as Hinsdale Central navigates the tough road ahead.

“The defense has been lights out so far,” Hartman said. “But we'll need to keep improving if we want to compete against the teams we have coming up.”

Battle for the OPRT:

Lisle and Westmont engage in the 10th annual battle for the Old Plank Road Trophy on Friday at Benedictine University in Lisle.

Instituted in 2006, the oaken icon — named for the 164-year-old road connecting the schools, since renamed Ogden Avenue — lists the winning school and score for each year.

The annual winner gets to keep the traveling trophy at least until the next meeting. Lisle holds a 6-3 edge since the trophy was awarded, though Westmont has it due to last year's 62-42 track meet.

“It's the battle of Ogden Avenue,” quipped Lisle coach Paul Parpet Sr. After he took over the program in 2014 Lisle track and cross country coach Ken Jakalski informed him of the importance of the annual Westmont game.

“It's a big game because it's a rival school, and we're both close,” said Westmont coach Otto Zeman, simply looking for a win after dropping two straight. “The kids get all fired up and it's a big game for both teams.”

Zeman also noted another perk that excites the players, Benedictine University being a college stadium. The turf saw 104 points scored in last year's game for the Old Plank Road Trophy.

“That better not happen this year,” Parpet grumbled.

Caught off guard:

St. Francis coach Mike Fitzgerald didn't realize his quarterback, Peter Fassnacht, completed a great passing streak until reporters told him after last week's 53-7 win over Marmion.

Fassnacht completed 20 straight passes in a stretch that went into the third quarter.

“I didn't know that was going on because I was so in the moment, play to play,” Fitzgerald said. “It kind of caught me off guard.”

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