Benet's defense never rests

Benet knew it'd be leaning on its defense early this football season, but through two games the stingy unit has gone above and beyond.

Early in last week's 41-3 win over O'Fallon the defense put 9 points on the board before the offense even scored. Defensive back Alec McEachern, shifted from linebacker to safety in the off-season, first tackled standout running back Kentrail Moran in the end zone for a safety, then scooped up a fumble and scored a touchdown to give his team a 9-0 first-quarter lead.

That's on top of an interception return for a touchdown the Redwings scored in the season-opening win over St. Laurence.

After two dominant nonconference victories, Benet coach Pat New knows his team - especially his defense - needs to be even better heading into the rugged East Suburban Catholic Conference. The Redwings open with fellow unbeaten Notre Dame, averaging 38 points in two wins, Friday in Lisle.

"We're in good shape on that side of the ball right now," New said. "Notre Dame's going to be fired up after we beat them last year."

Benet's been getting contributions from all three levels of its defense, starting on the line with returning starter Trent Kramer, who on Friday had 3 tackles for loss. Charlie Weidenbach and Jeff Marek lead at linebacker while McEachern anchors a young secondary.

They'll all need to step up as the Redwings head deeper into their ESCC grind.

"I don't expect us to shut a lot of these teams down," New said, "but hopefully we can contain them."

Star-spangled performance:

As Glenbard West took its traditional walk down the hill to Duchon Field before Saturday's game against Hinsdale South, a car paused on the road alongside the team and the window rolled down.

"Hey, good luck guys," the man inside said to the players.

It was Jim Cornelison, who's become a Chicago legend for singing a stirring rendition of the national anthem before Blackhawks hockey games. Sure enough, Cornelison was on hand to sing before the Hilltoppers' 50-31 victory.

"Pretty cool, huh?" said Glenbard West coach Chad Hetlet.

Cornelison's voice boomed over the sound system, and the players needed no help getting fired up for the start of the game. The crowd responded with roaring applause.

"I think everyone thought it was great," Hetlet said. "What a great start to the game."

Another rivalry week:

Willowbrook opened the season with its annual neighborhood rivalry game against Glenbard East. Two weeks later, the Warriors face another rival in District 88 sister school Addison Trail on Friday in Villa Park.

It's an interesting, temporary quirk in the schedule.

"We're not used to seeing Addison Trail this early," said Warriors coach Nick Hildreth. "It'll be interesting."

The West Suburban Gold schedule rotates every two years. Last season Addison Trail and Willowbrook played in the season finale for the second straight year, meaning that'll be the Gold opener this year and next.

It's been more than a decade since the District 88 schools played this early in the season. For Willowbrook, playing a rivalry game twice in three weeks won't change the approach but it'll add an edge to the first third of the season.

"No matter who it is, the next game on the schedule is always the most important," Hildreth said.

Shifting allegiances:

St. Francis may enjoy an edge over Friday's opponent, Marmion, before even stepping on the football field.

Joe Herenyi's move to Highland Park as coach after last season opened up the St. Francis defensive coordinator spot. In came Geoff Durian, who did that job for six seasons in two stints at Marmion.

"He's pretty familiar with their schemes and their personnel, so it definitely helps," said St. Francis coach Mike Fitzgerald.

A Wheaton resident with three children, Durian was no longer enamored of the commute west to Marmion for practices despite his appreciation for Cadets coach Dan Thorpe.

"I have total respect for him," Durian said. "I would not have gone to St. Francis if they did not have the same type of high-character, high-quality coach like Mike Fitzgerald."

Durian assisted at Driscoll, Glenbard West and, from 2005-07, at Marmion before serving as defensive coordinator at Harper Community College. When that school cut its football program in 2011 Durian returned to Marmion from 2012-14.

"He obviously cares about them," Fitzgerald said, "but this is where his loyalty's at right now."

Durian said he's felt excited, nervous, a whole range of emotions leading up to Friday's Chicago Catholic League Green contest.

"I don't know what to make of my emotions," said Durian, on the winning side last season at St. Francis' Kuhn Memorial Stadium when Marmion intercepted a pass in its own end zone to conclude a 17-13 Cadets victory.

"I'm nervous because he (Thorpe) knows me and I know him so there's not a lot of surprises. It's kind of like playing a relative or a brother, and you want to do well against the place where you came from ... Dan and I faced each other every day at practice. Now it's for real."

Twin terrors:

Twin brothers with axes to grind. That's what defenders deal with against the left side of Neuqua Valley's offensive line.

Tommy Cwiok, 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds, is in his third season on the line, this year at left tackle. At left guard is twin brother Anthony "A.J." Cwiok, a first-year starter, 6-3, 210.

Defensive tackles and linebackers not only have to worry about stuff like pad level and gap control. They have to counter a Cwiok (pronounced "see-wok") connection forged by years of mano-a-mano competition and intrinsic twin sensory perception.

"They don't have to communicate," said Neuqua Valley assistant coach Dave Ricca, who also coaches the brothers in track and field as the Wildcats' throws coach. He said their double-teams and second-level blocks are lessons in teamwork.

"I think the competition between the two of them has driven them to get better and better not just this year but in the past," said Wildcats coach Bill Ellinghaus. "They're brothers that have competed in the same position as far as the offensive line goes. It's just really neat to see them both now playing together and both on the same side of the line."

As throwers in track and field, Ricca believes coming up short of their goals last spring has helped drive them this football season. Ricca felt A.J. would qualify for 3A discus and Tom in shot put. Turns out A.J. was unable to go downstate in either and Tom qualified in discus - though scratching in shot put on what would have been a qualifying throw - but was unable to reach the finals and possibly lift Neuqua out of a second-place tie with Evanston.

"I think that was a driving force for them last summer," said Ricca, who said the twins exhibit a "quiet confidence."

The assistant coach said Neuqua's 14-7 loss to Naperville Central last week similarly motivated the Cwioks in this week's practices.

"All right, that was a tough loss, let's put it past us," Ricca said. "Let's learn from it and let's make this week the next, best week."

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