You probably aren’t too familiar with the names of Tommy Cwiok, Jake Zeiler, Mike Petersen, Joe Backe and A.J. Cwiok.
But those paying close attention to Neuqua Valley on a weekly basis certainly know that quintet, which has been tasked with carving out holes for the stable of running backs it blocks for.
Through six games, the Wildcats are averaging 162.3 yards a game on the ground and put their running game into overdrive last week against Naperville North with 257 rushing yards.
“They’re special. They really are,” Neuqua Valley coach Bill Ellinghaus said of the O-line. “I’m really pleased with where they were and where they are at now. They started out good, but I’d say they’re developing into a great offensive line and I’m proud of every one of those kids.
“They’re really working together and they’re making calls out there, making calls and adjustments out there that we don’t have offensive linemen do that very often. The fact they’re able to make those calls and make those side adjustments on the field has been outstanding. It really has.”
Neuqua Valley has seen six players record rushing touchdowns, led by Nick Osikowicz’s team-high eight TDs, and three – Osikowicz, DeVaughn Welch and Greg McCllelan – have at least two TDs.
On Friday night against the Huskies, it was Welch’s turn to shine as he ran for a game-high 75 yards while adding in a pair of first-half touchdown runs.
According to Welch, the reason for success is simple.
“I credit the line because I can’t do my job without the line,” he said. “The line’s the most important thing and I just couldn’t do it without them.”
Four players, Osikowicz, Welch, Owen Piche and Griffen Philgren, have all eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark as Neuqua Valley’s running back by committee has rotated smoothly.
“Tommy Cwiok and Zeiler, who anchor the line at the tackle spots, are both Division I talents in Ellinghaus’ estimation, but that doesn’t mean the other three aren’t vital to their success as a whole.
“I’ll tell you that the Division I kids though – I think we have Tommy Cwiok and if he’s not a Division I lineman, I don’t know what is,” Ellinghaus said. “Jake Zeiler, who’s a junior, is also (strong). Our two tackles, I think they’re Division I football players. When I say Division I, they got the size for it. But the other kids, Peterson is playing just outstanding at the center position. They’re working really well as a unit right now.”
Patience pays off: Be patient.
That’s what Conor Joyce, Emmanuel Rugamba, Matt Lehmann and the rest of the Naperville Central offense was telling themselves in regards to their passing attack.
A week after what Redhawks’ coach Mike Stine termed as a “unleashing,” Joyce followed up his 188-yard passing night in a 20-8 victory against Wheaton Warrenville South with quite an encore Friday night at Batavia.
As part of the Redhawks’ 20-point fourth quarter against the previously undefeated Bulldogs, Joyce threw for a season-high 264 yards as they coasted to a 34-14 victory to improve to 5-1 overall.
Of the 264 passing yards Joyce accrued, the Iowa-bound Rugamba and Lehmann combined for 243 of them.
“Maybe it’s a surprise to the people outside of our team, but inside our team – we always knew how good Manny was and we also knew how good Lehmann and our O-line was,” Joyce said. “So it was just a matter of time before things started clicking and it’s nice to see now that it’s starting to click as we forward in the season.”
A week after they connected six times for 188 yards and a score against the Tigers, Joyce and Rugamba didn’t relent against Batavia.
Rugamba caught six passes for 119 yards and three touchdowns from Joyce, who completed 12 of his 19 passes.
On the year, Rugamba has 32 receptions for 480 yards and five TDs while Lehmann has 12 catches for 282 yards and a score.
“Manny and I both have a lot of trust in each other,” Joyce said, “so I’m starting to more just realize that if I throw the ball up, let him go make a play – most of the time he’s going to go do that. So we’ve been working on that in practice a lot and also Matt Lehmann has been emerging outstandingly. That’s also helping a lot with people not only having to key on Manny.”
Joyce enters the final three weeks of the regular season having completed 57 percent of his passes for 936 yards with seven touchdowns and just two interceptions.
