Gone, but not forgotten

Naperville North and Nick Mlady (left) were upset in the second round, while St. Rita and Lawrence Garrett are still alive.
(Sun-Times News Group)

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You could get a migraine listening to the exchanges between football fans of the DuPage Valley Conference and the Chicago Catholic League Blue.

Last year, the state playoffs turned into a showcase for the DVC. Naperville North won the Class 8A title, beating Glenbard North. Wheaton Warrenville South played in the Class 7A championship and fell to Lake Zurich.

Throughout the afternoon and evening in Champaign, crowds were chanting ‘‘D-V-C!’’

Adding fuel to the fire was that Catholic League Blue powers Mount Carmel and St. Rita lost to DVC teams in the playoffs — the Caravan to Glenbard North and the Mustangs to WW South.

Fast forward to 2008 and the Catholic League Blue, which again sent all five of its teams to the state playoffs. It has four remaining — Mount Carmel and Brother Rice in 8A, St. Rita in 7A and Providence in 6A. The only team eliminated was Loyola, which fell to top-rated Maine South and will play Saturday in a Catholic League Prep Bowl playoff semifinal.

The DVC is finished. Four of its five qualifiers were eliminated in the first week, and defending state champion Naperville North lost in Round 2 to Marist in overtime.

Does that mean there has been a shift? I don’t think so. The DVC just got a little unlucky this year.

WW South had a little bit of luck in regular-season victories over Hinsdale Central and Glenbard North. And after an 8-0 start, the Tigers lost to Naperville North 7-6 and to Downers Grove North 8-7.

The Catholic League, at least in my lifetime, always has been a powerhouse. Mount Carmel was in the semifinals last year and lost to WW South in the 2006 title game. St. Rita won Class 7A in 2006. So with some success this fall, you can bet there will be talk of raising the multiplier.

Suburban Catholic rolling

With all the talk about which league is best, someone should be talking about the Suburban Catholic. The four playoff teams — Montini, St. Francis, Driscoll and Immaculate Conception — have combined for an 8-0 record in the state playoffs.

This weekend will be a big test. Driscoll, which has won seven consecutive state titles, must face unbeaten Aurora Christian and record-setting quarterback Jordan Roberts on Saturday night.

Do you think Don Beebe, who played in four Super Bowls, will have trouble getting the Eagles up for a big game?

Montini and St. Francis, which finished 1-2 in the conference, will play Saturday. In Week 4, Montini won 41-21. But St. Francis beat Driscoll 27-7 and the Broncos edged the Highlanders 14-13.

Immaculate Conception, one of five area teams that was 5-4 in the regular season and is still playing, is rated first in Class 2A by a computer program. The Knights’ losses were to Montini, St. Francis, Driscoll and Aurora Christian — teams that are a combined 41-3.

Schaumburg, Downers Grove North, Providence and Morris are all 7-4 and still playing.

Lemont’s Taylor a catch-all

I’m not a recruiting analyst, and I don’t spend spend time speaking to college football coaches. But watching the Class 6A playoff game between Lemont and Morgan Park at Gately Stadium on Saturday, I got my first glimpse of Lemont receiver Lee Taylor.

Can you say, hands like Jerry Rice?

This kid caught everything near him. I marveled at two of his catches. I was standing on the sideline, just a few feet away, and I still have no idea how the 6-foot, 160-pound sophomore was able to catch the balls.

‘‘I’ve been catching footballs since first grade,’’ Taylor said. ‘‘I can’t explain it. But my coaches started me out when I was young.’’

Morgan Park coach Lexie Spurlock couldn’t help but be impressed, as well.

‘‘The same kid got us three times and all on big plays,’’ Spurlock said. ‘‘And it wasn’t like we didn’t have guys on him.’’

Lemont also has the third in the line of Nagels. Junior linebacker Connor follows brothers Aaron and Brett, both at Northwestern.

Just wondering if the alphabetical progression of first names was planned.

stucker@suntimes.com