Bey's loss is Montini football's gain

There may be no greater success story on Montini's football team than defensive lineman Monte Bey.

In the Broncos' program all four years, despite his height of 6-foot-3 Bey hadn't made an impact until this, his senior season.

Montini coach Chris Andriano said Bey's weight climbed as high as 365 pounds during the summer between his sophomore and junior years. Bey has reduced that to 325 and is still cutting weight; meanwhile, he's gained a spot in the Broncos' base defense as a defensive tackle in running situations.

“We've been hard on him. We've been very hard on him,” Andriano said. “In the back of my mind, I thought he could never play for us, that's how I felt. And it's great to see that young man has turned the corner and done the right things and is motivated to be better.”

Bey contributed against the pass in Montini's second-round, 42-7 playoff win over No. 8 seed Kaneland that moved the Broncos' record to 11-0. Defensive end Tommy Hyland batted a ball that popped up and came down into Bey's outstretched arms. He returned the interception 4 yards before he was tackled.

Andriano said like most linemen, it was the first time Bey had touched the football “unless it's his PE class.”

Intent on making the play, Bey didn't celebrate until returning to the Montini sideline where teammates congratulated him, Andriano said.

“Then the smile came out,” the coach said.

“It was a bunch of different emotions for him, I'm sure,” Andriano said. “This is a great moment. We're proud of him.”

Mixed motives:

Naperville Central (10-1) suffered its lone loss in Week 4 to Waubonsie Valley, a 15-14 defeat that came after a touchdown and 2-point conversion by the Warriors (7-4) in the game's final minute.

Despite the obvious motivation of revenge heading into Saturday's rematch in Aurora in the Class 8A quarterfinals, the sixth-seeded Redhawks have other motives for winning.

“It's a second chance for us, but it's not about that,” said Naperville Central coach Mike Stine. “We don't have to talk about that stuff. It's about great preparation to help us put together 48 minutes of good football.”

While Naperville Central tries to return to the semifinals for the third time in five years, Waubonsie Valley seeks its first semifinal berth since 1992. The Redhawks won both previous playoff meetings including last season's 24-14 second-round win.

Saturday will be Naperville Central's fourth trip to Waubonsie Valley in the last two years.

“They're not the same team they were in Week 4 and we're not the same team either,” Stine said. “It's a great opportunity for both teams.”

Firing up again:

Glenbard West's 7-0 win over Mt. Carmel on Saturday was the program's most emotional game since winning the state title in 2012.

Now the Hilltoppers (11-0) need to fire up again for this weekend's Class 7A quarterfinal matchup at Auburn (10-1) in Rockford.

Like Mt. Carmel, it's a team top-seeded Glenbard West never has played before. Unlike the showdown with the Caravan, though, emotions aren't running as high even though a sixth semifinal berth in eight years hangs in the balance.

“I don't think it'll be a problem getting everyone refocused,” said Hilltoppers coach Chad Hetlet. “That was a huge win for us, but you never get over the hump in the playoffs. It's just hump after hump after hump every week.”

Hetlet believes the motivation is constant for his players, especially for the seniors who fell to eventual state champion Stevenson in last season's Class 8A semifinals.

After coming that close to a state title, the Hilltoppers don't plan on faltering now.

“The seniors were one play away from making the state title game, and they remember that feeling,” Hetlet said. “If you told them they had to walk from here to Rockford, they'd do it to get a win.”

Deep Valley:

Depth is an issue at Waubonsie Valley (7-4). A good issue.

In the Warriors' 21-14 win over Neuqua Valley, junior tight end Richie Puls extended two scoring drives with receptions of 21 and 23 yards for first downs. Junior defensive end Elias Quaye made 6 tackles. Another junior, Alex Stone, came in on the offensive line.

Each of these players — as well as sophomore Tanner Westwood, who in Week 4 hurt quarterfinal foe Naperville Central with a halfback pass and threw the overtime game-winner in Waubonsie's playoff opener at Edwardsville — earned their reps in junior varsity games, which coach Paul Murphy attends.

In cases like Puls', where he gets the call instead of usual tight end Charles Robinson, it gives opponents more food for thought, another weapon to consider.

“Now it's an issue that Naperville Central has got to be aware of,” Murphy said.

The coach hopes to gain Waubonsie's second semifinal and first since 1992 under former coach B.J. Luke. It would be Murphy's second after a 1989 Class 3A semifinal at Marmion.

The Warriors wondrous road as a Class 8A No. 30 seed went through No. 3 Edwardsville, the District 204 clash against No. 19 Neuqua and continues with the familiar, sixth-seeded Redhawks.

“Getting excited for Naperville Central shouldn't be an issue, either,” Murphy said.

Taking what they give:

Before signing off on a phone call last week to discuss preview information of IC Catholic Prep's second-round Class 3A game against Elmwood-Brimfield, IC coach Bill Krefft said, “We're going to throw the heck out of the ball.”

Quarterback Luke Ricobene came out of that 48-7 win completing 22 of 30 passes for 280 yards and 5 touchdowns — 2 to Pat Guinan and 1 apiece to Luke Calles, Garrett Cheng and Pat Jordan.

What will IC (10-1) bring to its quarterfinal at Princeton?

“They're going to dictate it,” Krefft said.

Between watching video for hours and in-game adjustments, offensive coordinator Tony Navigato bases his decisions on what an opponent's defense takes away and the options it presents to the Knights' offense. Navigato, who coaches IC's quarterbacks, also grades them like a lineman. Ricobene earned a grade of “like 95 to 98 percent,” Krefft said.

Depending on what Princeton's four-man front allows, the Knights also feature a ground game that last week ran for 247 yards, led by Jordan Rowell with 149 yards and Lazerick Eatman with 70.

“I think that definitely adds to the effectiveness,” Krefft said.

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