UEC Valley welcomes West Chicago
It was one of the first days of football practice and West Chicago second-year coach Bill Bicker was thinking.
”We want to have this in the back of our heads, that we want to make it a special year,” he said.
It already is. A founding member of the DuPage Valley Conference, this season West Chicago shifts to the tough Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division this season, essentially swapping leagues with Lake Park.
“Conference affiliation is just conference affiliation,” said Bicker, a Wildcats assistant in West Chicago’s last playoff season, 2002. “In life it’s kind of the same — you do the same thing over and over again and you kind of want to do something new. And for us, this is the ultimate something new.”
West Chicago counters with something not old but varsity tested. Senior quarterback Jordan Lelito started all nine games in 2012, completing 101 of 204 passes for 1,055 yards. His twin brother, Colin, caught 26 passes for 240 yards and is one of the Wildcats’ top overall athletes.
Junior Danny Lazzerini, last season’s sophomore quarterback, makes the leap to varsity running back in the spread offense. Another pair of juniors, tight end Peyton Seidler and receiver Alex Mitchell, look to add catches.
Bicker said skill positions are talented but somewhat young and thin, but that both offensive and defensive lines have some experience. Left offensive guard Alex Starkey and defensive end Mike Favia, both seniors, are anchors there; junior nose tackle Alex Maltese “jumped off the film” in summer sessions, Bicker said.
The coach said the linebackers in the 3-5-3 defense also are a tad young but likes junior Parrish Benton’s approach. The fastest Wildcat, Benton will range sideline to sideline at middle linebacker.
Regardless of conference, Bicker does not equate a certain number of wins with team goals. Focus, organization and growth are the keys.
“Our goal has always been, and will always be, win the week and get better every day,” he said.
The breakdown
Coach: Bill Bicker (second year, 0-9).
2012 record: 0-9, 0-7, eighth in the DuPage Valley Conference.
Top players: Parrish Benton (WR-LB, 6-0, 190, jr.), Mike Favia (DL, 6-2, 220, sr.), Danny Lazzerini (RB, 6-0, 180, jr.), Colin Lelito (WR, 5-8, 155, sr.), Jordan Lelito (QB, 5-8, 180, sr.), Alex Maltese (DL, 5-10, 225, jr.), Alex Starkey (OL, 6-1, 220, sr.).
Schedule
Fri, 8/30 King at West Chicago 7 p.m.
Fri, 9/6 West Chicago at Larkin 7:30 p.m.
Fri, 9/13 West Chicago at Metea Valley 7 p.m.
Fri, 9/20 Waubonsie Valley at West Chicago 7 p.m.
Fri, 9/27 West Chicago at Batavia 7 p.m.
Fri, 10/4 Bartlett at West Chicago 7 p.m.
Fri, 10/11 South Elgin at West Chicago 7 p.m.
Fri, 10/18 West Chicago at Neuqua Valley 7 p.m.
Fri, 10/25 East Aurora at West Chicago 7 p.m.