For the first time in six years, the defending Class 8A state champion resides in Naperville.
For the first time in six years, a Naperville-area program will enter the postseason harboring designs on doing what no Naperville-area school has done: repeat.
Coming three victories shy of following up its 1999 Class 6A state title with an encore in 2000 after spending much of that season as the top-ranked team in the state, in large part due to Jay McCareins going off amidst Naperville North’s 36-33 state quarterfinal upset, Naperville Central gets its second crack at that apple.
Relegated to having to share the DuPage Valley Conference title, its first since 2001, following Friday’s 27-20 loss at home to Wheaton Warrenville South, Naperville Central (7-2) was handed a No. 4 seed Saturday night during the IHSA’s annual unveiling of the seeds and pairings for all eight classes.
Their seven-game winning streak now only a memory and winners of seven games in the regular season for the first time since 2009, the Redhawks will open their quest to reach a second consecutive state title game and the fifth in program history next weekend opposite Brother Rice.
“I thought we’d be a three or four seed. I was surprised at the grouping of eight that the state put together. But, I mean, they usually move people around, so not surprised where we fell,” Naperville Central coach Mike Stine said. “It’s going to be a great challenge. They’re a great team. Their record is very misleading at 6-3.”
Meanwhile, the only other team to pin a loss on the defending 8A champs, Waubonsie Valley (8-1), received the highest seeding of all five area teams to qualify for postseason play, a No. 1 seed.
Fresh off laying claim to the program’s first Upstate Eight title since 2010 while finishing the regular season at 8-1 for the third time in the last four years, the top-seeded Warriors begin postseason play with eighth-seeded Metea Valley coming to Dick Kerner Stadium next weekend.
“We’re playing against kids that know each other, so we got to get ready to play,” Waubonsie Valley coach Paul Murphy said.
The Warriors shared the Upstate Eight Valley title with Neuqua Valley, courtesy of their 35-28 conquest of the Wildcats last weekend over at North Central College last weekend.
Metea Valley (5-4) finally will get to experience the postseason in its fifth year of existence and gets the unenviable task of having to open up with a conference opponent, much less one within a stone’s throw away from its campus.
Back on Oct. 3, the Mustangs nearly pulled off an unbelievable comeback before losing to Waubonsie Valley, 38-37.
“I think (the players) are going to be excited because we had a couple touchdown lead going into the second half and we damn near blew it, so we got to play a complete game—especially in the playoffs,” Murphy said. “So I don’t see any reason why we won’t be excited.”
Kleinhans felt even before his team’s regular-season finale on Friday that the Mustangs would be in the Class 8A regardless.
The fact the program’s first-ever postseason game is against one of its District 204 brethren adds icing to the cake.
“(The players) were going to be excited no matter who we played, but we had a little party. We watched (the selection show) together,” Kleinhans said. “They were just excited to get a chance to play their rival again, the school down the street. It just adds that much more to a first-round game.”
Neuqua Valley (6-3) is in the postseason for a fifth straight year, having ensured its participation courtesy of Friday’s 28-14 victory at Metea Valley, and will open against No. 3 seed Homewood-Flossmoor.
Third-year coach Bill Ellinghaus came away somewhat pleased with his team’s assignment for next weekend.
“I’m excited that we get to go see somebody else. I mean, the state playoffs are all about playing different people and we’re going to take our kids and everybody will be excited to go play them,” he said. “I think (playing) Naperville Central or Waubonsie again (would be dull). We’ve done that over, over and over again. It’s easier in the playoffs (to play familiar opponents), but it’s just nice to a play different opponent.”
All five area schools reside in Class 8A this year, including Benet, which returns to the postseason for a third straight year and for the fourth time in five years under 1987 alumnus Pat New.
Benet (6-3) officially clinched its reservation into the 32-team Class 8A postseason field with a 66-7 victory over Marian Catholic Friday night and will travel to third-seeded Hinsdale Central.
“I kind of saw it coming. We knew we were on the bubble (between 7A and 8A). … We were looking at some numbers and one of our coaches is really good at this, kind of predicted it,” New said. “And he even predicted Hinsdale Central.”
Dates and times for all first-round games will be released by the IHSA on Monday afternoon at 3PM.
