Lisle ironmen showing their mettle

Lisle junior Mark McGrath is used to doing yeoman's work, but his performance in the Lions' 24-21 overtime win against Herscher was something else.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder literally didn't come off the field. Making matters more interesting, in pregame warmups Lisle quarterback Alec Van Volkenburg aggravated an injury. That pulled McGrath from his usual spots as a running back and receiver to go behind center and "cut off about half of our game plan," coach Paul Parpet Sr. said.

McGrath plays on all of Lisle's units - offense, defense, special teams. In regulation time he passed for 120 yards with a 19-yard touchdown pass then kicked the extra point. He ran for 74 yards with a 1-yard touchdown run.

McGrath kicked a 27-yard field goal, averaged 37.3 yards punting, returned a kickoff 21 yards, returned 3 punts for 30 yards and made 2 tackles out of the secondary.

In overtime he gained 7 yards on first down and scored on a 3-yard run for the game-winner out of a pass-run option play.

"Like Mark said, it was designed to score a touchdown," Parpet said. "I wanted the ball in his hands."

Parpet had many players go double- and triple-duty during his hall of fame tenure at Addison Trail. He stressed that McGrath is not Lisle's only ironman. Lineman Alex Lange, tight end-linebacker Mark Pivek, running back-defensive back Nick Massura and running back-linebacker Grant Haen all play 90 percent of the time or more, Parpet said.

"(They're) the type of football player that I'm used to," Parpet said. "That's the way we do it."

No regrets:

Every team that just misses the playoffs has a game or two they feel they should have won. Wheaton North hopes to have no regrets at the end of this season.

After two straight losses the Falcons sit on the edge of elimination from playoff contention with a 3-4 record. To have any hope of reaching the postseason, Wheaton North must beat Naperville Central (6-1) and Waubonsie Valley (5-2).

The Falcons know it won't be easy.

"If we want to be a playoff-caliber team, we have to beat playoff-caliber teams," said Falcons coach Joe Wardynski. "Somehow we need to find a couple more wins against good teams."

Three straight wins over Naperville North, Metea Valley and Lake Park built the Falcons' confidence, but they haven't been able to overcome losses to Wheaton Warrenville South and Joliet Catholic at the start of the season.

Unless the Falcons win their next two games and qualify, a double-overtime season-opening loss to WW South could prove especially costly.

"We knew that first loss was going to be a hard one for us, but it is what it is," Wardynski said. "We're probably where we should be based on how we've played so far this season. Hopefully we're better in these last games."

Phew:

If only for a moment, Glenbard West has a chance to exhale.

Last week the Hilltoppers (7-0, 5-0) clinched their eighth straight West Suburban Silver title with a 34-7 victory at Oak Park. On the heels of beating Lyons Twp. and Hinsdale Central, it was their third consecutive victory over a previously unbeaten conference rival.

Now that the grueling stretch is past them, the Hilltoppers finally have a chance to regroup for another deep playoff run.

"It's a great feeling," said Glenbard West coach Chad Hetlet. "I didn't know how we'd come out of that stretch. From a health standpoint and from a win-loss standpoint. I'm really pleased with the way we came out of those three games."

Glenbard West closes the regular season against Proviso West (1-6) and Addison Trail (3-4). Regardless of the opponent, Hetlet knows his team will be ready.

"Tuesday was as tough a practice as we've had all season," Hetlet said. "The kids understand that we still have things to fix, no matter what our record is."

Playoff mode:

York and Downers Grove North meet on Friday with their entire seasons at stake. Because both teams enter the West Suburban Silver showdown with matching 3-4 records, the loser will be eliminated from playoff contention.

The winner still has to win its Week 9 game, but at least they're still alive.

"We can't take any game for granted," said York coach Matt Monken. "Every game is a playoff game for us right now."

If Downers North wins, the Trojans face Proviso West (1-6) in the regular-season finale. The Dukes would have a taller task in qualifying against Lyons Twp. (5-2) in Week 9.

Neither side, though, is looking past Friday's game in Downers Grove.

"We're ready to make that push these last couple of weeks," Monken said.

Win and in:

A win in Friday's Upstate Eight Valley game at West Aurora and Glenbard East can celebrate like it's 1999.

That was Glenbard East's only playoff season. Bringing a 4-3 record and 36 playoff points into Week 8, a victory would make the Rams eligible, their points almost certainly enough to qualify.

West Aurora's playoff drought exceeds that of Glenbard East; the Blackhawks haven't made the playoffs since 1994. Their situation is more precarious, a 4-3 mark with 27 playoff points.

"Somebody's trying to eliminate the '90s," said Glenbard East coach John Walters, who has 3-4 Bartlett in Week 9.

Friday's game pits West Aurora's squad of athletes including the Cross twins, DaQuan and DaVion, and Illinois recruit Drake Spears against Glenbard East's passing attack headed by quarterback Phil Abruzino, who's thrown for 1,900 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Walters sees both Nate Eimer's Blackhawks and Glenbard East as programs on the rise. From the freshman levels on up Glenbard East has a combined record of 21-13 and 13-2 in Valley Division play. Each level is competing for at least a share of a conference title.

"Their program, like ours, has come a long way in the last couple years, and it's a great matchup of two teams that are beginning to thrive and grow," Walters said.

Lightning strikes twice:

In Westmont's 62-20 win over Reed-Custer, junior receiver Marquis Thomas caught 7 passes for 223 yards and 4 touchdowns, of 10, 33, 63 and 71 yards.

Last season Thomas made the Illinois High School Association record book in a 62-42 win over Lisle. Thomas caught 8 passes for 332 yards and 5 touchdowns. The yardage ranks third all-time, the touchdown catches tied with many others for second.

Giving their all:

Ted Monken is determined to turn things around at West Chicago. Despite a 1-6 record entering Week 8 against another non-playoff foe, 1-6 Wheaton Warrenville South, Monken has seen improvement as well as determination.

"We are making strides, there are things we're doing better. We're just not where we need to be," the Wildcats coach said.

Monken is encouraged by a group that practices hard daily with only a Week 4 win over East Aurora to show for it. He credited players such as offensive lineman Jourdan Habecker and "workhorse" defensive lineman Damon Dombek, who missed summer camp due to job responsibilities and has gone from playing nose tackle to a more difficult assignment at defensive tackle at the "3-technique."

Monken said senior receiver Mikey Bibbs, among West Chicago's best athletes on the squad, "gives his all" in practice although his offensive opportunities have been limited to 18 catches for 200 yards.

Bibbs never complains, Monken said, just goes out and "busts his butt every day."

"It's fun to go out there and practice when you've got kids that work like that," Monken said.

Follow Kevin on Twitter @kevin_schmit

Follow Dave on Twitter @doberhelman1