Naperville Central is poised to pick up its fallen star.
By Bob Sakamoto
Tribune Staff Writer
September 14, 2000 9:22 PM CDT
Naperville Central had the kind of start that marks a team
for greatness.
In its first three games, two against 1999 playoff teams,
the rampaging Redhawks outscored the opposition 125-0.
Lockport, Stevenson and West Chicago were forced to endure
a running clock in the second half because they had fallen
behind by 40 points.
There was talk that if the No. 1-ranked team maintained
such dominance en route to a repeat state title, the
Redhawks would take their place among the greatest high
school football teams of all time.
For those who remember Joliet Catholic's juggernaut of the
1970s, Mt. Carmel's four-time champions and the aerial
bombardment of Wheaton Warrenville South's record-breaking
'98 state champ, this team from Naperville was beginning to
evoke a similar sense of wonderment.
No one will ever know how good this team could have been.
Quarterback Owen Daniels, a 6-foot-4-inch, 220-pound senior
who made an oral commitment to Wisconsin on Sunday, was
diagnosed Wednesday with a season-ending knee injury.
Considered among the top QBs in the Midwest, Daniels had
completed 31-of-36 passes for 566 yards and seven
touchdowns and rushed for two more scores.
Beginning Friday night with Wheaton Warrenville South,
opponents can load up defensively to stop running backs
Kyle Griffith and Matt Yellin while challenging junior
quarterback Phil Horvath to beat them through the air.
"I'll go into Friday night's game with confidence that
we're not going to miss a beat," said Horvath, who passed
for 1,400 yards and 17 TDs last year in leading Central's
sophomore team to a 9-0 record. "It helps that I worked out
with Owen and our receivers all summer. I try to make good
decisions, and I also have the ability to throw deep."
Naperville coach Joe Bunge doesn't want his new quarterback
looking to become the next Owen Daniels overnight.
"I just want him to play a steady game and not try to win
it by himself," Bunge said. "Sure, we won't be as effective
throwing the ball, but I don't see us completely abandoning
the passing attack. Phil might not be 31-of-36, but if he
stays away from interceptions and completes 50 percent of
his passes, that'll be fine."
Horvath has a pair of game-breaking receivers in Kevin Noel
and junior Tyke Spencer, who hooked up with Horvath on an
83-yard pass play last season. A third option is tight end
Kyle Adams.
Most of all, Horvath's transition could be smoothed over by
a defense best described as defiant.
"I'm not worried about the offense," said defensive tackle
Joe Alvarez. "We'll still score points. If not, it will be
0-0 after four quarters and we'll eventually win in
overtime.
"There are people who think our three shutouts are a fluke,
and we can't wait to prove them wrong."
The Redhawks' defense has nine starters from the Class 6A
state-championship unit that gave up an average of 13
points a game. Returnees such as Alvarez, linebackers Ryan
Amberson and Drew Kocsis and backs Mitch Nowicki and Brett
Anderson were further strengthened by the addition of
tackle Chris Hill, a 6-3, 255-pound transfer student from
Ohio.
"It's hard on all of us, and we feel bad for Owen," Noel
said. "But we are defending a state championship, and we're
not going to lay down because one of our stars is down. The
other stars just have to shine a little more."
Daniels said Wisconsin's coaching staff has assured him
that Barry Alvarez's scholarship offer remains firm.
Daniels will have his left knee re-examined next week and
possibly schedule surgery to repair the torn anterior
cruciate ligament sustained on the first offensive play of
last week's 43-0 victory over West Chicago. Even with the
injury, he was able to complete 11-of-13 passes for 185
yards and a touchdown. "The way I contribute now is to
provide some leadership on the sideline," Daniels said.
"I'll be like a quarterbacks coach for Phil. He's a good
quarterback who could be starting for almost every other
team in our conference."
The defensive players met without their coaches Wednesday
and vowed to take the pressure off Horvath and the offense.
"It's time for us to step up and carry the team," Joe
Alvarez said. "Honestly, when the pressure is on, that's
when we play our best. We want to win the rest of our games
for Owen because he has done so much for us already."
Copyright 2000 The Chicago Tribune