Experienced West Aurora seeks 1st playoff berth since 1994
Not a lot of high school football teams will out-athlete West Aurora.
The University of Illinois thought enough of senior running back and linebacker Drake Spears to offer him a scholarship the spring of his sophomore year. In June he chose the Illini from among 10 offers.
Junior running back-linebacker DaQuan Cross, like Spears a 4.6 sprinter, is a state-caliber high jumper named 2014 Coaches Association Class 8A all-state honorable-mention after leading the Blackhawks with 677 yards rushing, 42 tackles and 561 yards on kickoff returns. Twin brother DaVion Cross, a two-way back, placed second in Class 3A track triple jump.
Three-year starting quarterback Jonathan Doyle - "the toughest kid I've coached in 10 years," Blackhawks coach Nate Eimer said - completed 64 percent of his passes and also ran for 456 yards, 6 touchdowns in 2014.
Eimer's skilled positions got a further lift when basketball talent Camron Donatlan joined the team as a receiver. Even linemen such as Alex DeBolt and Leo Colon had the footwork and coordination in track and field to throw their implements a decent ways.
"I'm not going to beat around the bush or try to downplay it, we're really good at the skill positions," Eimer said. "It's entertaining to me to watch our practice. We have a lot of kids who can make you miss."
Many times one aspect of a team is loaded and others lax. West Aurora, which returns six offensive starters and seven on defense, seems well-rounded.
Three-year starting offensive guard Sam Deisher, 285 pounds, returns with DeBolt to a sizable unit that's shown quality and depth with Dante Battle, Owen Thomas, Jake Elkins and Oscar Gonzalez and others.
Defensively, four of the five starting linebacker spots return. At the fifth, junior Taylor Zimmerman "was perhaps the summer's best linebacker," the coach said.
Free safety Jimmy Roggeman was last season's No. 2 tackler behind DaQuan Cross. The three-man defensive front of Colon, Edwin Cuevas and Spencer Locke sounds like it'll hold its own.
In 2014 West Aurora faced five playoff teams and six with winning records. It must improve last year's average 29 points allowed and cut the penalties.
Perhaps the biggest factor for a program out of the playoffs since 1994 is keeping its head when adversity inevitably strikes. Four wins in its last five games last season, including an overtime victory over Waubonsie Valley, might be a step in that direction.
Regarding physical skills, West Aurora may have a head start.
"I think we have a lot of people who can hurt you on offense and defense, which I think is tough to prepare for," Eimer said.