Zack Bennema doing nice job running explosive Waubonsie Valley offense
Waubonsie Valley coach Paul Murphy has had a tendency to do wonders with quarterbacks over the course of one year.
A list featuring the likes of Kenny Clay, Mitch Stefani, Dylan Warden and Jack Eddy shows Murphy has entrusted to run his vaunted veer-option attack on offense.
And he knew full well what he had in senior QB Zack Bennema heading into this season.
“We knew going in Bennema was going to be the best kept secret we had going in at the start because nobody knew anything about him because he was the backup to Jack Eddy last year,” Murphy said. “He had shown in practice last year and he showed in his mop up duties last year when he got in when we had the running clocks, he showed last year he could run the option.
“But you’re in games that are blowouts and out of control and nobody’s paying attention because he’s going against other teams’ subs and they’re demoralized because of the score and nobody’s paying attention, except I was.
“He did a great job last year. He was good in practice at reading the option, so I didn’t want anyone to know what we had going into the early games of the season. He’s done a nice job of making good decisions in our option game. Our kids have bought into the game plan we come up with each week and executing it to the best of their ability.”
As the No. 7 Warriors, off to their second 5-0 start in the last three seasons, prepare to host Metea Valley Friday, Bennema has been the biggest reason for the fast start.
Through five games, Bennema has racked up the numbers on the ground as his 435 rushing yards and team-high nine rushing TDs would indicate.
“When they need a big play, (Bennema’s) carried the ball and obviously (Tony) Durns is explosive at tailback. But (Bennema) seems to be the guy that when they need to make something happen, he does,” Metea Valley coach Ben Kleinhans said. “Going into the season, I don’t know how many opponents expected (Bennema) to be such a threat running the ball and run their option so well. (With) his body, his arm, he’s more of a prototypical quarterback. But he’s proven that he runs their option very, very well.”
Metea Valley ready to show District 204 rivals it’s getting better
Still looking for the program’s first-ever postseason appearance, it’s clear Metea Valley is taking the necessary steps to get there under third-year head coach Kleinhans.
Being viable for a postseason berth heading into Week 9 last season before eventually losing to Waubonsie Valley, Metea Valley came into 2014 hoping to chase down the Week 10 aspiration that has proven elusive up to this point.
Armed with a two-game winning streak, a first-ever victory over one of their District 204 rivals, Waubonsie Valley, on Friday could do a lot for the Mustangs (3-2, 2-1 Upstate Eight Valley) towards that end.
“It would be huge. We’re trying to not approach it (that way). It’s the most important game of the year because it’s the next game of the year,” Kleinhans said. “We want and need to raise our game each week, no matter who we’re playing. We felt like we played our best game of the year on Saturday (in a 44-27 victory at South Elgin), but it’ll go up to another level this week to compete and be in a position to win this week. So it would be … it’s obviously huge. They’re a district rival and they’re the big brother, so to speak, and we want to show that we’ve grown up and our program has taken the next step to be able to compete with them on a Friday night.”
Coming a point shy of defeating the Warriors in the first-ever meeting between the two Aurora programs in 2010, the Mustangs have lost the last three meetings by a combined score of 147-24.
Naperville Central wary of “wounded” Naperville North
Considering they had missed out on the postseason in two of the three seasons preceding last season’s 2013 Class 8A state title run, Naperville Central can relate somewhat to the situation its crosstown rival finds itself in.
With Friday’s annual meeting with the Redhawks at North Central College next on the docket, Naperville North (2-3, 0-1 DuPage Valey) faces the unenviable task of having to win out should it fall to the defending 8A state champions for a second straight year in order to reach the postseason for a 18th straight season.
“Every week now in the DVC, everyone’s back is kind of against the wall. We’ve been in that situation before,” Naperville Central coach Mike Stine said. “You play with a little bit different sense of urgency. You’re kind of that wounded animal. It’s important for us is to keep that emotional level down and we’ve had a couple games where we’ve been able to do that.”
The Huskies’ streak of reaching postseason play for 17 straight seasons, dating back to 1997, is the current longest such streak of any program in the DVC.
