A season of maturity benefiting Waubonsie Valley
Waubonsie Valley's football team obviously has come a long way.
The Warriors started the season with only linebacker Max Ihry returning as a defensive starter and three sophomores — linebackers Kyle Schroeder and Josh Dominiak, cornerback Derric Lee — starting on that side of the ball.
Entering Saturday's Class 8A semifinal at Marist, they're veterans by experience.
“I just think the eight games we played in the (DuPage Valley Conference) helped us to develop a thicker skin,” Warriors coach Paul Murphy said.
At times in these playoffs, Waubonsie (8-4) has yielded yardage. In the first two rounds, first Edwardsville and then Neuqua Valley each compiled more yards of offense than Waubonsie.
When the Warriors have needed a play, they've made it. Defensive end Ray Braun's touchdown-saving tackle against Edwardsville, followed by a lost fumble that allowed the Warriors to force overtime; Trevon Moore's interception and 2 fumble recoveries last week against Naperville Central.
“It's been bend but don't break, but we've also made crucial plays at the right times,” Murphy said.
That's blended with an offense able to grind out drives behind the team's main area of experience, an offensive line that returned three-year starting center Tyler Caldwell, returning starters Quinton Zielke, Brandon Porter and Corey McKnight plus junior Dan Dominiak, Josh's brother, who transferred from Montini where he started on the defensive line as a sophomore.
The No. 30 seed Warriors beat Neuqua Valley on two 81-yard drives and another of 64 yards, and played keep-away with Naperville Central to become the highest-seeded team to reach the semifinals since No. 32 Joliet Catholic in 1996, according to the Illinois High School Association's Matt Troha.
It seems a long time ago the Warriors were hoping their playoff points were sufficient to reach the postseason at 5-4.
“When we found out we were in the playoffs we explained to them, every team in the playoffs earned their way in, including you guys,” Murphy said.
Options:
Glenbard West (12-0) knows what to expect from Cary-Grove (11-1) in Saturday's Class 7A semifinal game in Glen Ellyn.
Well, partially.
The top-seeded Hilltoppers know they'll see a large dose of the run-heavy triple-option offense, but it'll be unlike the other option ground games they've faced this season.
Glenbard West did an awesome job slowing the option attacks of Downers Grove North and Mt. Carmel — its second-round playoff opponent — while allowing fewer than 70 rushing yards in both games.
Those, however, were veer option offenses. The triple-option is a variation the Hilltoppers haven't seen this year.
“They've run it for a while and they run it with such precision,” said Glenbard West coach Chad Hetlet. “They run their stuff so well. We really need to be prepared.”
Cary-Grove has averaged nearly 300 rushing yards a game, a pace that hasn't slowed in three playoff games. Fullback Tyler Pennington leads the way with 1,335 rushing yards.
“We've done a pretty good job against the run this season, but this will be different,” Hetlet said. “It's the best team we've played so far. I don't think it's even comparable.”
Fancy meeting you here:
When plotting out the Class 6A playoff bracket, expectations automatically turned to two-time defending state champion Sacred Heart-Griffin, which this season was bumped from 5A because of the IHSA's “success factor” multiplier.
The Cyclones had won 39 straight games heading into the quarterfinals, but they were stunned in last week's 38-35 loss to Crete-Monee. Now 13th-seeded Hinsdale South (9-3) will play a surprise semifinal opponent as it tries to advance to a state title game for the first time since 1980.
Not that the opponent matters to the Hornets. They just look forward to the opportunity.
“You look at some of the scores out there, and there were some surprises,” said Hinsdale South coach Mike Barry. “We know we have our hands full with Crete, but I would have taken a shot at either one of them just to get the chance to play for the title.”
High praise:
In Week 3 against St. Rita, Montini — through its play calls — seemed to deliberately test senior quarterback Justin Blake's ability to make reads and convert the sometimes delicate passes the Broncos' spread needs to work.
After last week's 49-14 win at No. 5 seed DeKalb, Broncos coach Chris Andriano opined that Blake was “the best player in the state.”
“He's the engine for us,” said Andriano, who will need the top-seeded Broncos (12-0) clicking on all cylinders at home Saturday against No. 2 Prairie Ridge.
“His speed is unbelievable, his passing is terrific. He's accurate, he's got a great arm, he can sling it — the spin on the ball is really tight and he zips it in there,” Andriano said.
“He's just been as smart as we would have hoped for at the beginning of the year. Our offense runs through him and we've been great and it's because of his playmaking ability.”
The coach said Blake knows when to throw the ball away or when to tuck and run. As a result, Blake has thrown for 1,381 yards and 16 touchdowns without an interception.
“We had no idea he was going to be this good,” Andriano said. “Absolutely not.”
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