West Aurora coming closer to getting over DVC hump

Prior to last weekend’s DuPage Valley Conference opener against Wheaton Warrenville South, West Aurora’s football team found itself in a familiar position.

The Blackhawks were off to their eighth consecutive 2-0 start but for the first time in eight years, the season-opening victories included a different opponent from East Aurora and Elgin.

This season, their Week 2 foe was St. Charles East, a team the Blackhawks defeated 20-7 during the unveiling of their new turf surface at Ken Zimmerman Field.

While West Aurora fell short in its bid for its first 3-0 start since 2002 after last Friday night’s loss to the two-time defending Class 7A state champion Tigers, there was a different feel as the Blackhawks walked off Red Grange Field.

One reason why was because the Blackhawks played WW South to a scoreless first half.

Another came when Shon Enoch’s 7-yard touchdown run gave the Blackhawks a 6-0 lead early in the third quarter.

“It was an unbelievable feeling,” Blackhawks coach Nate Eimer said of watching his team take a second-half lead on the perennial powerhouse Tigers.

OK, it’s a fact that the Blackhawks were kept off the scoreboard the rest of the way en route to a 20-6 loss.

But this defeat was a far cry from what had happened in recent years.

In 2010, WW South handed West Aurora a 42-6 defeat. Two years ago, it was all Tigers in a 61-0 blowout.

Having been outscored 179-19 by WW South the past 4 seasons, you begin to understand why last weekend’s 14-point loss didn’t seem so bad.

With that being the case, Eimer wasn’t about to accept a moral victory, either.

“We expected to win,” said Eimer, whose team also lost the turnover battle, 5-0. “We’ve got to take this effort and keep building off it. We can’t have this be the height of our season.”

Led by nose tackle Javonta Black, linemen Terrence Pierce and Ricardo Gomez, linebackers Kendall Williams, Matt Williams, Booker Ross, Brandon Warren, Preston Felker, and defensive backs Jonathon Gosong, Alejandro Quezada and Nate Zinzer, the Blackhawks’ defense certainly left a lasting impression on longtime Tigers coach Ron Muhitch.

“They’re a very good football team,” Muhitch said of the Blackhawks, “and their defense is outstanding.

“He (Eimer) has turned the corner with that senior class in particular. He has nine returning starters on defense and that’s evident. They’re playing hard and they’re playing together. Yards came hard (Friday) because of that.”

Through their first 3 games, the Blackhawks’ defense has allowed just 4 touchdowns — 3 when you consider one came on a kickoff return against St. Charles East.

“Coach (Anthony) Melchiori is the defensive coordinator and does a phenomenal job,” said Eimer. “I’m learning from him everyday about getting those guys ready.”

The loss kept West Aurora winless in 15 DVC tries against WW South.

“We still haven’t beaten those guys but we’re getting closer,” said Eimer.

Has the mindset changed at West Aurora for a school that has enjoyed just 2 winning seasons in 16 years and last reached the playoffs in 1998?

“I hope so,” said Eimer. “This was one game and it was exciting but I think next week is going to tell me a lot of things — it’s really going to tell me if things are changing.

“We’re happy with our effort but like I told the kids, I think next week (Sept. 16) just became the biggest game of the year for us.”

That would be Friday night’s homefield clash with longtime nemesis Naperville Central (2-1, 1-0).

The Blackhawks’ recent history against the Redhawks is a carbon copy of their past results with WW South.

Over the past 3 seasons, Naperville Central has outscored West Aurora, 127-27.

Eimer, the Blackhawks’ 12th head coach since 1971, understands what lies ahead.

“For this program to take steps forward, we’ve got to beat those guys,” said Eimer. “That’s the thing about the DVC. You did it this Friday night but it’s not like next week we can rest anybody. We’ve got to come out and do it again, and do it again, and do it again …”

If the Blackhawks are going to reach the playoffs for the first time since Ira Jefferson’s 1994 squad qualified (6A) with an 8-2 record, they’ll need more consistent play from their offense.

Last week, West Aurora gained just 35 yards rushing and threw 3 interceptions against the Tigers.

“Offensively, we’ve got some things to figure out,” said Eimer.

The quarterback position is one area that needs to be solidified.

Quintez Jones, a 6-4, 215-pound sophomore, got his first varsity start against the Tigers and showed off a strong arm despite throwing a pair of interceptions.

“He made some mistakes but also did a lot of great things,” said Eimer. “He made a lot of throws that we haven’t seen made yet this year.”

Senior Richard Renner also saw time at quarterback, completing 7-of-10 passes while providing leadership.

“Richie came in and did a great job running our 2-minute drill at the end,” said Eimer. “He’s a senior who is nothing but a team player.”

For now, Eimer will keep the Redhawks guessing this week.

“We’ll see where we’re going to go with that,” said the coach.

During their 14-plus-year DVC history, West Aurora owns a 0-53 mark against Naperville Central, Naperville North, and WW South. Its last win over Wheaton North came in 2004 (18-14).

“We’ve got to get over that hump,” said Eimer.

Judged by last weekend’s performance, that hill may be getting a bit smaller.

You can reach Craig Brueske at csb4k@hotmail.com