By Brad Engel
STAFF WRITER
The Naperville Central football players must have felt like little kids on Christmas Eve, wondering if Santa Claus would honor their wish list or leave a
lump of coal.
Senior starting quarterback Owen Daniels, who made an oral commitment Sunday to play football at the University of Wisconsin, and his undefeated
Redhawks gingerly reached into their stockings Wednesday and got their answer. Daniels received confirmation from a magnetic resonance image Monday
that he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left leg in a 43-0 victory against West Chicago on Sept. 8 on the road.
The test results hit home.
"I'll let you know how it will affect the team after the game (Friday), but we're pretty realistic about this," Central coach Joe Bunge said. "We realize that
injuries occur, and it's a problem that we have to deal with."
The team began the healing process in a post-practice huddle Wednesday. Bunge finished addressing the Redhawks when shouts of "Owen" resonated
across the field. Daniels limped from the outskirts of the huddled band of brothers before reaching the core and leading the team in a cheer.
Though Daniels' value to the team has been reduced to mere sentimentality, his knowledge of Bunge's offense can undoubtedly rub off on junior back-up
quarterback Phil Horvath. After leading the sophomore squad to a 9-0 record last year, Horvath inherits a 3-0 record and the chance to become the
quarterback who saved Christmas.
Bunge is well aware the 6-foot-1-inch, 175-pound Horvath will battle a case of nerves heading into tonight's spotlight — not to mention the biggest start
of his career — in front of Central's home crowd against Wheaton Warrenville South (3-0 overall, 1-0 DuPage Valley Conference).
"I just told him be Phil Horvath," Bunge said. "Don't try to be Owen Daniels. And that's what he'll do. He knows what he's capable of. He'll do good."
Daniels will visit his doctor Thursday to discuss the results of the MRI.
09/15/00