Waubonsie Valley looking for success

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:20PM

Entering its season finale Friday at South Elgin with a 6-2 overall record, the Waubonsie Valley football team has an opportunity to close out its best regular season in several years.

A victory Friday would accomplish two things: garner a share of the Upstate Eight Conference's Valley Division crown, which would be the school's first conference title in three years, and complete a 7-2 regular season and possibly ensure staying at home for the first round of the Class 8A playoffs next weekend.

"We just laid it out for (the players). Looking at where we're currently at - we're sitting at the 12th seed at 6-2," Waubonsie coach Paul Murphy said. "We know that if we go 7-2, we're not gonna be any worse than 12. We should move up. We feel pretty good that we'll have a shot at a home game if we can get to seven wins."

In Murphy's five previous years at the helm of the Warrior program, his 2007 outfit is his only team to finish the regular season at 7-2.

The 2007 Warriors earned a No. 5 seed but dropped its playoff opener at home to Hinsdale Central.

That 12-10 loss to Hinsdale Central three years ago is the last time Waubonsie has begun the postseason at home.

For the fifth time in six seasons under Murphy, Waubonsie Valley is headed to the postseason.

With that first preseason goal met, focus now turns to another goal: advancing in the postseason.

Three straight playoff appearances have been met with a first-round defeat each time and the school hasn't won a playoff game since a 17-14 upset victory over Thornton in 2001.

"Another goal we set during the offseason was to win our first-round playoff game. … It gives you something to shoot for. It makes it exciting. It's a challenge our players are looking forward to," Murphy said.

Last year, the Warriors erased an early 12-point deficit against Downers Grove South to take a 21-12 lead right before halftime.

However, the Mustangs would score 10 unanswered points the rest of the way and eventually pulled out a 22-21 victory over Waubonsie.

Central in unfamiliar territory

Having staved off playoff elimination last week with its 31-7 victory over West Chicago, Naperville Central must do it one more time Friday if it would like to avoid missing out on the postseason for the first time since 2002.

The Redhawks (4-4, 3-3 DuPage Valley) travel to Carol Stream Friday to face off with No. 12 Glenbard North, which is coming off a 49-6 drubbing at the hands of No. 1 Wheaton Warrenville South.

"Right now, that's not a thought because we're gonna make the playoffs," Central coach Mike Stine said. "Our thoughts are preparing this week just like we always have for Glenbard North. They're gonna be a great team. A week ago, right now, they were ranked No. 1 in 8A.

They're a great challenge, but it's a great opportunity for us. That's what we look at it as - an opportunity to earn our way into the playoffs."

No matter what happens between Central and Glenbard North, the DuPage Valley Conference is guaranteed of sending half of its eight-team contingent to the playoffs.

Known for its football prowess, the last time the DVC failed to qualify at least four of its schools for the postseason was 2002 - the last year Central, Glenbard North and WW South all failed to reach the postseason.

"If you can contend for a conference title or if can four or five conference games, you have a chance to contend for a state title," Stine said. "History has shown that. We gotta win one more to get our name thrown in the hat."

West Chicago possibly looking into leaving DVC?

Officials at West Chicago met last night to discuss possibly leaving the DuPage Valley Conference and become an independent.

Glenbard South is the last team to leave the conference, departing after the 1996 school year. West Aurora joined in 1998, constituting what's the present configuration of the conference.

"In terms of the football coaches, I'll tell you what: the football coaches don't want to leave (the DVC)," Naperville North coach Sean Drendel said about members possibly looking into leaving the conference. "I know some of them would like to get some more wins in the conference, but they know it's a great football conference.

"You get three wins in the conference and two out of the conference, that's a decent season. They can get a chance there as they prepare for the playoffs. ... The football coaches want to play in this conference and we want to play football. It's a great conference for that."

Last week, the Wildcats' girls' volleyball team won its first-ever conference title, but the football team continues to struggle.

The football program hasn't reached the playoffs since 2002 and hasn't won a game inside the conference since Oct. 17, 2008 - a 13-game losing streak.

Since winning the Class 3A state title in 1974 with a 13-0 record, West Chicago has enjoyed only five winning seasons - the last coming in 1992.

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