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Scouting the Waubonsie Valley Warriors

Waubonsie Valley's football team received a double dose of good news this summer.

Bryce Logan is back.

And Bryce Logan is healthy.

Cleared in July from a torn ACL suffered in last year's first-round playoff win over Bolingbrook - an injury not discovered until January - Waubonsie Valley's senior running back returns for a third varsity season after rushing for 1,148 yards and 11 touchdowns.

"He's just about at 100 percent," coach Paul Murphy said of Logan, who holds an offer from Air Force. "He's worked his tail off. He didn't miss a single summer practice even though he was rehabbing."

Murphy calls this "a typical Waubonsie offense" with the ability to strike in a bunch of ways. It'll obviously focus on Logan, but new quarterback Ethan Nelson is an intriguing option after he won both games he played last year.

Charlie Millington is a third-year starter on the line. Sam Skuja is another returning lineman, while Myles Pettaway is back at receiver. Two young playmakers to watch: sophomore running back Antonio Torres and junior receiver Elijah Lee.

Between defensive linemen Demari Wilson, who last season had 5.5 sacks, and Joey Gits, the Warriors have two of the better pass rushers in the DuPage Valley Conference. Linebacker Ryan Mutz was second on the team with 48 tackles, while Grayson Griffin started last year as a sophomore.

If there's a concern with the defense it's in the revamped secondary. Lee, as a defensive back, is among the handful of athletes you'll see on both sides of the ball. Wilson is another.

It's a solid 37-player roster, but the depth issues are clear. Waubonsie Valley must stay healthy ... and not just Logan.

"Until you play that first game you never know," Murphy said. "But I think it's going to be an exciting team to watch."

One to watch: After splitting two games last season with rival Neuqua Valley, the Wildcats await in Week 5.

The breakdown

Coach: Paul Murphy (15th year, 97-51; 30th year overall, 191-106).

2018 record: 7-4, 2-2, third in DuPage Valley Conference.

Top players: RB Bryce Logan, sr.; LB Ryan Mutz, sr.; DL Joey Gits, sr.; DL-TE Demari Wilson, sr.; OL Charlie Millington, sr.; OL Sam Skuja, sr.; LB Grayson Griffin, jr.; WR Myles Pettaway, sr.; QB Ethan Nelson, sr.; RB-DB Antonio Torres, so.; DB-WR Elijah Lee, jr.

- Kevin Schmit

Schedule

Fri, Aug 30, Oak Park-River Forest at Waubonsie Valley, 7:30 p.m.

Fri, Sep 6, Waubonsie Valley at Libertyville, 7:30 p.m.

Fri, Sep 13, Waubonsie Valley at Louisville Trinity (Kentucky), 7 p.m.

Fri, Sep 20, Waubonsie Valley at Naperville North, 7 p.m.

Fri, Sep 27, Neuqua Valley at Waubonsie Valley, 7:30 p.m.

Fri, Oct 4, Waubonsie Valley at DeKalb, 7:30 p.m.

Fri, Oct 11, Naperville Central at Waubonsie Valley, 7:30 p.m.

Fri, Oct 18, Metea Valley at Waubonsie Valley, 7:30 p.m.

Fri, Oct 25, Naperville North at Waubonsie Valley, 7 p.m.

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