Naperville Central boasts of high-scoring defense

Five-game winning streaks don't come along by accident.

For Naperville Central's football team, it's because of a defense creating turnovers at a crazy rate.

"We see that defense every day in practice, so we know how good they are," said Redhawks coach Mike Stine, the team's offensive coordinator. "It's a special group."

In the last two weeks alone the Redhawks (5-1) have picked off eight passes and recovered three fumbles. For the season nine players have snared at least one of the team's 14 interceptions.

Junior defensive back Garrett Purdy came into last week's 27-6 win over Naperville North with no interceptions and picked off three passes that night.

And the defense isn't just creating turnovers, it's turning them into points. The Redhawks have scored 7 defensive touchdowns and caused 3 safeties. Opponents have scored only 47 points on Naperville Central, with 7 points coming in the opener on a Waubonsie Valley interception return.

That means the Redhawks' defense has outscored opposing offenses 55-41.

While the bulk of the points have been scored by linebackers and defensive backs, Stine gives much of the credit to Naperville Central's defensive line. With Joe Schweikart and Jack Walsh on the edges, the Redhawks have created pressure with their front four, allowing more freedom to the back seven.

"It comes when you get pressure with a four-man rush, and we're able to do that," Stine said. "Our guys in space can get to the ball pretty well. They're pretty quick."

Atta boy!:

Addison Trail's offense boasts its share of playmakers, a list headed by receiver Jaavion Bradley, running back Malik Pierre-Louis and quarterback Mike Rybarczyk.

The Blazers' secret weapon, however, is Jake Atiyeh.

"He might be our most valuable player out there," Blazers coach Paul Parpet said of the 5-foot-9, 180-pound senior receiver-running back. "He allows us to do all the things we do on offense."

It's a long list for Addison Trail, which is 6-0. A Friday win over Proviso East clinches the West Suburban Gold title and breaks the program record for consecutive wins to start the season.

Atiyeh is a major part of the success. Not only does he lead the team in receptions - including the game-winning touchdown catch two weeks ago against Hinsdale South - he's also critical in blocking schemes on run and pass plays.

Whatever he's asked to do, Atiyeh delivers.

"He's such a team player," Parpet said. "He's done it all for us."

No dreamland:

Waubonsie Valley (6-0) has retained its unbeaten record and Associated Press No. 5 ranking in Class 8A by winning its last two games on a blocked extra point in overtime and a missed extra point in regulation that could have forced another overtime.

Perhaps previous blowout wins over East Aurora and Bartlett had something to do with it.

"To me it's more of a focus thing than anything else," said Warriors coach Paul Murphy.

Murphy said the past two games have been "uncharacteristic" - missed assignments and stats like the 2 lost fumbles and 11 penalties for 90 yards last week against Metea Valley. Or Metea running back Bryson Oliver repeatedly making Warriors defenders miss tackles.

Some of this might be rectified against West Aurora when offensive linemen Bailey Burns and Quinton Zielke are probable to return from injuries that held them out last week.

"I think it's all part of the learning process," Murphy said. "Anyone who thinks you'll go through a nine-game season and have no issues, you're in dreamland."

On the other hand:

Glenbard East was on the other side of the ledger as Waubonsie Valley, taking a pair of overtime losses the last two weeks, to Waubonsie and last week to Bartlett.

Stuffed by Bartlett on the ground and forced to go to the air to counter a 20-6 deficit, Phil Abruzino's 295 yards passing gave the Rams the exact same 319 yardage total as Bartlett, but it's hard to win turning the ball over seven times.

Glenbard East also came up with 3 interceptions, by Dominic Wilberton, Davontae Smith and Mickey Farnham, who returned his 85 yards for a touchdown.

This Saturday at South Elgin, Glenbard East's keys are not allowing big plays while controlling the ball to finish scoring drives, coach John Walters said. At 3-3 the Rams remain intent on achieving their preseason goal of a playoff appearance.

"They have to look at the opportunity that's in front of them, and that's South Elgin," Walters said.

All together now:

It's taken six weeks but Glenbard North's offense is finally coming together.

Much of the credit goes to the resurgence in the Panthers' ground game that's seen junior running back Devion Hodges rush for more than 600 yards the last three weeks, including back-to-back 200-yard performances. It's given Glenbard North (3-3) much-needed confidence as it vies for a 12th straight playoff berth.

"He's what makes everything go," said Panthers coach Ryan Wilkens. "We're getting off the ball a little bit better up front."

Between the graduation of record-breaking running back Justin Jackson, now at Northwestern, and a rash of early-season injuries at running back and quarterback, Glenbard North's offense had a difficult time forging its identity.

That's changed in recent weeks. Sophomore Shane Conway's taken over at quarterback, which has allowed senior Brett Gasiorowski to split time at receiver and defensive back.

The offensive line, anchored by right guard Dominic Heredia, has endured several changes but now has a stable group up front. All-DuPage Valley Conference fullback Dillon Warnecke, meanwhile, keeps plowing paths for the tailbacks.

"We've made a lot of changes, but this is what it'll look like the next three weeks," Wilkens said. "We'll see what happens."

Signature win:

Westmont coach Otto Zeman knew he had players but wasn't sure about their confidence against tough opponents.

Westmont's confidence grew in last week's 27-22 comeback win over Seneca, which went 9-3 last year and advanced to the Class 3A quarterfinals.

"It's a credit to them that they didn't give up," Zeman said.

Westmont could have given up trailing 14-0, and again when Seneca marched 99 yards to take a 22-19 lead with four minutes left. Instead Westmont drove 66 yards and scored on Quintin Brown's 19-yard touchdown run. The senior also had a 92-yard touchdown run among his 214 yards rushing.

"You could tell they really felt good after the game," Zeman said. "Emotionally and mentally it was a really good win for us. We're actually having fun - I'm having fun, and the kids are working hard."

Westmont (3-3) has won its most games since a four-win season in 2011. It holds out hope for its first playoff appearance since 2006, but due to the playoff point tiebreaker probably needs to sweep 1-5 Reed-Custer, 6-0 Manteno and winless Sandwich.

"We've got to try to win out," Zeman said.