Naperville Central-Minooka features strong defenses

Updated: October 27, 2011 8:03PM

Returning to familiar territory after a one-year hiatus from postseason football, Naperville Central begins what it hopes will be a long postseason run tonight amidst a sense of déjà vu.

Already having dealt with solid running backs Dan Vitale (Wheaton Warrenville South), Phil Jackson (Glenbard North) and Patrick Sharp (Wheaton North) — all within the confines of DuPage Valley Conference play — another stout running back, Minooka senior Calvin Hill, awaits Naperville Central tonight.

Finding itself in yet another affair that seems to be all about the two running backs — Hill and Naperville Central senior Matt Randolph — ninth-seeded Naperville Central will look to advance past No. 8 Minooka behind its defense.

“We know we got a pretty good defense,” Naperville Central coach Mike Stine said. “We’re gonna be tested. They have a very good running attack. They’re a great program, also. They went to the quarterfinals last year. They were 10-2 last year.”

While the Redhawks’ defense, which has allowed an average of 14.3 points a night, will have 11 sets of eyes trained on Hill, who has gained 1,341 yards and scored 21 TDs this year, Indians’ quarterback Joey Carnagio provides a dual threat.

“He’s right in there with the kid from (Naperville) North (Dan Puknaitis), the kid from Wheaton North (Patrick Sharp), (Phil) Jackson from Glenbard North,” Stine said of Hill. “The Waubonsie (Valley) kid (Austin Guido), the Neuqua (Valley) kid (Joey Rhattigan). Hill is powerful, he’s quick. He’s got great balance. He’s gonna cause a lot of fits. We gotta know where he’s at on the field.”

Naperville Central (6-3) will hope to counter Hill’s impact with Randolph, who has totaled 1,159 yards and 17 touchdowns this season, and will go up against what Minooka coach Bret Kooi believes is the strong suit of his team, Minooka’s run defense.

In the past two weeks, which saw the Redhawks record victories over Naperville North and West Chicago, Randolph exploded for a combined 389 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“Matt Randolph’s one of those special backs that obviously we’re gonna have to give a whole lot of attention to, also,” Kooi said. “Not commit so much that obviously we’re still able to defend the pass when they want to throw the ball.”

For an Indians’ offense that would rather run it than throw it with Hill’s presence, Carnagio has tallied 963 total yards for Minooka, whose offense has scored at least 48 points in four games this year. Minooka saw its six-game winning streak snapped last week with a 21-7 loss at Oswego.

Opening the season with losses to Morris and Providence, respectively, Kooi admits Minooka (6-3), playing a team from the DuPage Valley Conference for the first time, hasn’t seen a caliber of defense that it will see tonight in Naperville Central’s.

“No, we haven’t (seen a defense like theirs). They’re very good. That defensive end (senior defensive lineman Zach Borta) is something special.” he said. “That will be a heck of a challenge for us.

“Before (Friday) night (against Oswego), we put up a lot of points on the board, generally speaking. We were shut out in the Providence game. Overall, we’ve been scoring a lot of points week in and week out. We’ll be challenged as much as we’ve ever been challenged to try and move the ball and keep their offense off the field.”

The seedings aside, both coaches believe this is an even matchup because both teams want to do the same type of things. Both teams have strong defenses and offer similar personnel, especially at the quarterback and running back spots.

Much like Carnagio, Naperville Central quarterback Ian Lewandowski is more of a runner than a passer, having recorded 350 rushing yards and three touchdowns, ranking second to Randolph in both categories.

As much as Randolph and Hill will dictate who emerges victorious tonight, the contributions of Lewandowski and Carnagio can’t be ignored in what should be a close game as both teams will try their best to force the other to pass more than they would like.

“It’s gonna be a great game. It’s a great matchup because both teams want to play the same style of ball. It’s not where one team wants to spread it,” Stine said. “Both teams want to play smashmouth football. We’re excited. That’s what we want to play. We’re gonna get an opportunity. That’s what they like to play and they’re gonna get an opportunity. It’ll be fun.”

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