Super 25 countdown: Wheaton North

Updated: August 5, 2011 7:16PM

Joe Wardynski's calling card as a football coach has been figuring out how to stop opponents.

He ran Wheaton Warrenville South's defense for the last four years of his 10-season run as an assistant with the Tigers. Since he took over as Wheaton North's head coach for the 2008 season, Wardynski's defensive acumen has helped the Falcons remain among the better teams in the tough DuPage Valley Conference and reach the IHSA playoffs every season.

But it's a little bit different outlook at Wheaton North this fall. The Falcons - ranked 21st in the Sun-Times preseason Super 25 - figure to lean on their offense a little more than usual.

"We had a decent summer," Wardynski said. "We did quite a few 7-on-7s, more than I would have wanted to do, looking back on it."

But those competitions - at Northern Illinois, Bolingbrook, Downers Grove South and their own field - reinforced the fact that the Falcons have the makings of a team that can move the chains effectively.

"Especially early in the year, it might be important for us to put a few points on the board," Wardynski said.

For one thing, Wheaton North will see a pair of Division I quarterback prospects the first two weeks in Bartlett's AJ Bilyeu (committed to Air Force) and Geneva's Matt Williams (committed to Northern Illinois).

Senior linebacker Michael Swider is one of the few experienced players back on a defense that will be tested by Bilyeu and Williams among others. But if the Falcons don't have a lot of veterans on that side of the ball, they do have some depth.

"We found out that we've got a bunch of defensive linemen, none of which are any better than the rest," Wardynski said. "We've got seven or eight who can get minutes. We had four seniors who took almost all the snaps last year, but (this season) going in, I think we'll do it by committee."

Roles are more defined on the offensive side, which is why that unit will be expected to shoulder much of the load early.

The leaders include returning senior receivers Johnny Daniels (6-foot-3, 190) and Micah Penn, along with junior running back Patrick Sharp. Senior Landon Bruni will help anchor the line.

Running the offense will be junior quarterback John Peltz (6-2, 215), who led the Falcons sophomores to a 9-0 finish last fall.

"He's a good, big, strong-armed kid," Wardynski said. "He's got some kids to throw the ball to. Hopefully, we'll give him a few seconds to get rid of the ball."

The Falcons also hope they can navigate their way through the DVC to another Class 8A playoff berth. They were 8-3 last season, with two losses coming to crosstown rival and 7A state champ Wheaton Warrenville South, and the other to Glenbard North.

"We tell the kids we want to compete for conference," Wardynski said.

And that probably means keeping the points coming.

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