Naperville Sun Week 8 football preview capsules

Updated: October 13, 2011 5:58PM

Benet (1-6, 0-6 East Suburban Catholic) at St. Viator (1-6, 0-6 East Suburban Catholic), 7:30 p.m.

Last week: Benet won at Washington High School (South Bend, Ind.) 6-0; St. Viator lost at Carmel 51-32

Storyline: Fresh off getting its first win of the season last week by shutting out Washington High School of South Bend, Ind. 6-0, Benet returns to East Suburban Catholic Conference play tonight against the other winless team in the conference, St. Viator.

The Redwings’ defense continues to play well despite the fact the offense has gone 14 quarters without contributing a touchdown.

Along with forcing five turnovers, including a pair of Jack Toner interceptions, Benet’s defense limited the Panthers to just one first down and 142 total yards, which included doing a nice job on both Panther stars—running back David Perkins and wide receiver Gehrig Dieter.

Redwings’ sophomore kicker John Duvic accounted for all the game’s scoring with a pair of field goals, including a 28-yarder that snapped an 11-quarter scoreless drought in the second quarter.

Meanwhile, St. Viator has struggled for the majority of the season, especially on defense.

The Lions have given up at least 50 points in five games, but they scored a season-high 32 points in their blowout loss at Carmel last week.

St. Viator junior quarterback Mickey Macius threw three touchdown passes last week.

Benet coach Pat New on St. Viator: “They’ve got an efficient passing game. What worries me is that they just put up a bunch of points on Carmel, so that’s not good. They put more points on Carmel than anybody else has scored all year. That certainly creates a lot of worry for us. Our defense has just been getting better and better every week. It makes for an interesting matchup, that’s for sure.” 

Bartlett (5-2, 4-0 Upstate Eight Valley) at Neuqua Valley (5-2, 3-1 Upstate Eight Valley), 7:30 p.m.

Last week: Bartlett beat Metea Valley 42-0; Neuqua Valley lost at Waubonsie Valley 27-21 (OT)

Storyline: Dealing with the end of its four-game losing streak and its first loss to crosstown rival Waubonsie Valley since 2008, Neuqua Valley returns home tonight looking to clinch a playoff berth and for one final chance to stake its claim to the Upstate Eight Valley crown.

Awaiting the Wildcats will be Upstate Eight Valley-leading Bartlett, which has won three straight since losing to Batavia in Week 4 and resides in sole possession of first place in the Upstate Eight Valley with two weeks to play.

Wildcats’ junior running back Joey Rhattigan topped the 200-yard mark for the second time this season in the loss to the Warriors, having gained 241 yards and scoring three touchdowns on 31 carries.

Shredded for a season-high 350 total yards against Waubonsie Valley, Neuqua Valley’s defense must now deal with Air Force-bound quarterback A.J. Bilyeu.

Bilyeu completed 10-of-20 passes for 144 yards and three touchdowns last week in Bartlett’s 42-0 shutout of Metea Valley.

A Bartlett victory tonight would clinch at least a share of the Upstate Eight Valley title for a second straight year for the Hawks, whereas a Bartlett defeat will likely put Bartlett into a three-way tie atop the conference with Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley.

Neuqua Valley coach Bryan Wells on Bartlett: “What they do well is that it’s a solid ballclub. There’s not a lot of mystery to them. They’re gonna say ‘we’re gonna run the ball’ and they do it pretty well. They’ve got a sophomore kid by the name of Butler that runs the ball well. Bilyeu both runs the ball well, but they’re more designed runs, not ad-libbed stuff. He throws the ball extremely well. He’s very accurate and they have a knack for getting receivers open. He just takes what defenses give him. He doesn’t put the ball in danger very often. They’re very good offensively.

“Defensively, (they’re) kind of the same way. They’re gonna do what they do and do it very well. They’re pretty aggressive. They like to give everything in front of them, in terms of passing game. They’re tough to run the ball against because they’ll get eight, nine (men) in the box very quick.”

Lake Park (3-4, 1-3 Upstate Eight Valley) at Metea Valley (3-4, 1-4 Upstate Eight Valley), 7:30 p.m.

Last week: Lake Park beat St. Charles East 43-27; Metea Valley lost at Bartlett 42-0

Storyline: Ending its tough four-game stretch against the top four teams in the Upstate Eight Valley by losing all four games by a combined score of 178-6, Metea Valley must win out to become playoff eligible.

Severely handicapped by the loss of starting quarterback Jarrett House, who injured his knee in the Mustangs’ 33-0 loss at South Elgin in Week 4, the Mustangs turn their attention to Lake Park tonight.

Metea Valley didn’t throw a single pass last week in its 42-0 loss at Upstate Eight Valley leader Bartlett.

A week after being responsible for the Mustangs’ only points in the last four weeks with a long touchdown reception against Neuqua Valley, junior running back Cameron Wilcox ran 17 times for 96 yards against Bartlett.   

House returns tonight and surely will give the Mustangs and their offense a boost, which scored a combined 116 points behind House in their three victories before seeing House sustain the injury.

Meanwhile, the Lancers find themselves in the same spot as Metea Valley, needing to win out to become playoff-eligible.

On a two-game winning streak, Lake Park has topped the 40-point mark in both of those wins, including putting 43 on St. Charles East last week, highlighted by a 175-yard, three-touchdown night from running back LaCurt Evans.

Metea Valley coach Ted Monken on Lake Park: “They’re a program that’s very quickly improving. Coach (Chris) Roll has done a nice job getting those guys to believe and buy into what he’s trying to preach as an important part in their program. They’re getting better and better each week. They are a whole lot better so far. Teams ever think their next (game) is going to be a pushover opponent is definitely gonna be wrong. In a lot of ways, we’re very similar. We’re not overly big at a lot of positions. Neither are they on either side of the ball. We both have had our struggles against the tougher teams in the conference.”

Waubonsie Valley (6-1, 3-1 Upstate Eight Valley) at East Aurora (0-7, 0-4 Upstate Eight Valley), 7:30 p.m.

Last week: Waubonsie Valley beat Neuqua Valley 27-21 (OT); East Aurora lost at South Elgin 52-6

Storyline: Spurred on by its first victory over crosstown rival Neuqua Valley since 2008, Waubonsie Valley heads to Aurora tonight with playoff positioning on its mind.

Off to the best seven-game start in coach Paul Murphy’s seven-year tenure, the Warriors are officially in the Class 8A field for a fifth straight season behind a junior quarterback that continues to get better.

Dylan Warden has led Waubonsie Valley to four straight wins and has shown off his legs to the tune of 300 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Warden’s two late touchdown runs proved pivotal in the Warriors’ come-from-behind victory over the Wildcats last week.

Waubonsie Valley’s defense allowed 21 points to Neuqua Valley, the most points it has given up since surrendering 27 to Bartlett in its only loss this season back in Week 3, but it should be able to get healthy and sharpen up against the Tomcats.

East Aurora is winless on the season and has given up an average of 48 points a game, while scoring no more than seven points in any game, including three shutouts.

Waubonsie Valley coach Paul Murphy on East Aurora: “I think when you get a team that’s not having a real good season, this is a good week for us to concentrate dotting our I’s, crossing our T’s, doing our fundamentals. Making sure that we running our offensive plays the way they’re designed to be run and our defensive alignments are the way they’re supposed to be aligned, our communication on the offensive and defensive lines are what we want. It’s more of a focus of us, making sure we’re getting better. We’re preparing for East Aurora, but I think we’re spending extra time on a lot of the little things that you cover back in August.”

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