Figuring out what makes Wheaton North so good
Last week we went under the radar to look at Neuqua Valley's football team.
This week's Eyes on Five goes under again to look at the team that just beat the Wildcats.
Make sense? Read on to find out about that and a whole lot more.
1. Taking flight:
I've gotten a bunch of questions this season about Wheaton North. They boil down to this: What's making this year's team so effective?
Bottom line ... it's the most physical Falcons team I've seen in years. And they're playing to that strength on both sides of the ball.
The goal each week is simple. Wheaton North wants to lean on its defense as much as it needs to early and get out to a lead to dictate the pace and style of play the rest of the way.
That means churning 80-yard, clock-eating, run-dominant drives with an underrated offensive line and underrated running back Sam Singleton, who's rushed for 1,054 yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging nearly 22 carries a game. Antowon Tolbert and quarterback Rhett Netzer add 573 rushing yards on 111 carries.
That means 82 percent of Wheaton North's offensive plays have been running plays. Netzer's thrown for 313 yards - which is what this week's opposing quarterback, Naperville Central's Payton Thorne, threw for last week.
The strategy has worked to near perfection.
The Falcons are 6-1 overall and improved to 5-1 in the DuPage Valley Conference with last week's 23-0 win over Neuqua Valley. Which brings us to the other half of the equation.
Wheaton North's defense has been great at every level, and it now leads the DVC in fewest points allowed with 97. Bo Neidballa is the heart of the unit with fellow linebackers Jameson Smykal and Brayden Anthony. Safety Jackson Gray is one of the DVC's top defensive backs.
The Falcons face Naperville Central (5-2, 5-1) on Friday, and the winner is guaranteed at least a share of the DVC title.
Now that they've clinched their first playoff berth since 2013, the Falcons want their first DVC crown since sharing it in 2011.
2. Hitting Hitters:
As one of DuPage County's perennial powers - and often the only area team that plays on Saturday - Glenbard West sees me a lot.
Of all the Hilltoppers teams I've covered through the years, this one may intrigue me the most.
It's an explosive offense featuring a three-headed running monster of Ryan Diver, Dre Thomas and Tyquan Cox and an elite receiver in Alec Pierce. Aside from last week's mud-caked 14-9 win over Hinsdale Central, the Hilltoppers haven't been held under 34 points.
The question marks for the Hilltoppers (6-1, 4-0 West Suburban Silver) coming into the season were on defense. Inexperience and injuries caused early struggles, but the Hitters are starting to figure it out.
They had to play without linebacker Dan Howard, lineman Marky Winters and others. Most injured players returned, but now safety Pat Howard and lineman Aidan O'Keefe are out.
Three starting sophomores are still learning the varsity ropes. Juniors and backups have been forced to emerge.
It's taken spot two-way play by Diver, Pierce and tight end Sam Fenske to shore up the defense, but it's worked. Through all the adversity, somehow the defense settled in nicely.
This group may never be on par with the historic Glenbard West defenses of past seasons, but they may not need to be that good.
Considering the strength on offense, the defense still might be championship-caliber.
3. The edge:
This is a scary time of season for a bunch of teams. You know, the ones hanging on to playoff hopes with four losses.
As we head into Week 8, six DuPage County teams with 3-4 records must win their last two games to have a chance to make the playoffs. It won't be easy.
Glenbard North and Waubonsie Valley entered the season with expectations of competing for the DuPage Valley title, but it hasn't worked out for either. Lisle has lost three straight games to wind up on the edge of playoff elimination, including last week's defeat to Westmont - a team also sitting on the edge.
Wheaton Academy spent the last three weeks losing to the top teams in the Metro Suburban Blue, and now the Warriors must beat Fenton and St. Edward to qualify. Unlike past seasons, the Warriors know they have plenty of playoff points to reach the postseason if they get five wins.
Downers Grove North staged an epic comeback victory over Oak Park, but then last week lost a heartbreaking and controversial game to Lyons Twp. Now the Trojans must beat rival Downers Grove South and York to get into the playoffs.
It's a fascinating road for each of the six teams.
4. Flagged:
For a few weeks I've wanted to talk about flag football in great detail, but with the playoffs approaching I'd better hit it now.
I reached out to Batavia coach Dennis Piron, who told me the Batavia Youth Football league doesn't have a tackle team until seventh grade. From first grade through sixth grade, the players only compete in 7-on-7 touch or flag football.
Piron and retired Batavia coach Mike Gaspari formed the league about a dozen years ago, and it's been the main feeder system for the high school team. The lack of contact hasn't hurt the Bulldogs one bit.
The 2013 Class 6A champions are 7-0 this season and clinched their eighth straight playoff appearance. The 7-on-7 system doesn't develop linemen, but it allows everyone to compete at every position. And, let's be honest, anyone familiar with Batavia's program knows the Bulldogs still churn out quality linemen.
I'm starting to wonder if Batavia might become a blueprint for youth football programs. Flag football eliminates safety concerns and gets kids interested in the sport earlier and for a longer period of time.
The Chicago Public Schools started a flag football league when many of its schools dropped their tackle programs due to declining participation numbers. We'll see how successful it is.
Regardless, you might be looking at the sport's future when you look at programs like Batavia.
5. Stat time:
Four DuPage County teams - Glenbard West, IC Catholic Prep, Wheaton North and Willowbrook - wrapped up playoff berths with victories last week.
Five-win teams Benet, Glenbard South, Hinsdale Central, Hinsdale South, Montini, Naperville Central, Naperville North and Neuqua Valley can guarantee playoff spots with a victory this week.
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