By Brad Engel
STAFF WRITER
For the third straight year, DuPage Valley Conference teams will square off in the state semifinals for the chance to play in the championship at the University of Illinois next weekend.
No. 1 seed Naperville Central (12-0 overall, 7-0 DVC) will play host to No. 20 Wheaton North (9-3, 4-3) at 7 p.m. Friday at Memorial Stadium in Naperville. On Saturday night, Wheaton scored the most playoff points of any Class 8A team this season, beating No. 21 Warren Township 61-6 at home while Central knocked off No. 9 Conant 26-7 with its defense on the road.
"There are so many great teams in the DVC," Wheaton junior quarterback Zach Ullrich said. "From Week 3, every game is like a playoff game. There are so many great teams in the DVC that should have been here. You benefit from playing in a tough conference like that."
The semifinal winner will become the ninth team in 11 years to represent the DVC in the finals.
Wheaton and Central played each other in Week 5 this season when the Redhawks defended their home-field advantage with a 35-14 victory. Central coach Joe Bunge earned his 200th win that evening, and the Redhawks were on their way to a perfect regular season and 37 wins in 38 tries.
In that game, Central gained more first downs (23 to 20), more passing yards (236-165) and more rushing yards (188-139) behind a three-touchdown performance from senior tailback Kyle Griffith, who is now sidelined with a knee injury. At the same time, Ullrich completed 19-of-30 and threw for one touchdown for a Falcons team still considered an upstart in the DVC.
"They're a different team than the first time we played them," Central defensive coordinator John Urban said. "They've improved tremendously since that time. They're on a roll, getting all the breaks on turnovers, field position. We have to make sure that we can get those same things."
The Falcons went on to win six of their next seven, losing to Wheaton Warrenville South but knocking off No. 13 Plainfield 24-20 and No. 4 Hinsdale Central 19-18 in the playoffs before eliminating the No. 21 seed Saturday.
"I really think they are (playing at another level)," Falcons' offensive coordinator Steve Thonn said about his team. "We've been trying to talk to them all year about getting better and better and better. The guys have really stepped it up, and it's great to see. We're going to have to step it up more next week, because it's going to be tough."
While Central's last three playoff losses (2000, 1998, 1997) took place at home, the Redhawks can guarantee they care only about this year. Last year, Naperville North ended Central's perfect season in the state quarterfinals.
"One of our motivating factors is that this will be the last time our seniors step on Memorial Field," Urban said. "Last year's feeling did not have a good feeling the last time on it, and we want to make sure that doesn't happen again."
As for playoff history, neither team has an advantage. In the past four years, DVC teams have met four times in the state playoff series, during which the regular-season winner has won twice. In 1997, Larry McKeon's Huskies beat Central in the regular season only to lose to the Redhawks in the quarterfinals. Last year, Naperville North beat Glenbard North in the regular season and then lost to them in the semifinals.
On paper, neither team has a clear-cut advantage on offense. The Falcons have Ullrich (142-for-254, 1,815 yards, 15 touchdowns) and receivers Mark Slocum (61 catches, 764 yards) and Dareon Spencer (31-534) to go along with running backs A.J. Harris (138 carries, 871 yards) and Andy Cvengros (169-692). The Redhawks sport quarterback Phil Horvath (110-188, 1,953 yards, 21 touchdowns) and receivers Tyke Spencer (41-762) and Dan Passarelli (35-692). In the backfield, senior tailback Jason Paquette (166-1,176) nowcarries the loadfor Griffith. Central has scored more points than Wheaton (426 to 304).
On defense, Central stands out with its 94 points allowed to Wheaton's 221, averages of 7.8 and 18.4 respectively.
Although it seems Central has the most state experience and tradition with its latest run it 1999, Wheaton North has some history to draw on too. The Falcons won the Class 4A state title in 1979 and 1981 and the Class 5A title in 1986. With a state title in Class 8A this year, they could become one of the first teams to win in three classes.
"Naperville Central — it's going to be great," Harris said. "We're going to get them back."
Groomed for state DuPage Valley Conference teams in the state finals 2001 — Naperville Central or Wheaton North 2000 — Glenbard North (runner-up) 1999 — Naperville Central (champion) 1998 — Wheaton Warrenville South (champion) 1996 — Wheaton Warrenville South (champion) 1995 — Wheaton Warrenville South (champion); Naperville Central (runner-up) 1994 — Naperville North (runner-up) 1992 — Naperville North (champion) 1991 — Glenbard North (runner-up)
11/14/01