#2 Chicago (Simeon) (10-1) at #4 Naperville (Central) (9-2) (map), Sat., Nov. 15, 2PM.
Back in the state quarterfinals for the third time in the last four years, Naperville Central is rekindling some of its glory days from the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Yes, the 2013 Class 8A state title it won last year in DeKalb, courtesy of a 13-10 upset of Loyola, marked the second state title in program history, but the four-year stretch Mike Stine’s program is currently going through right now certainly marks a resemblance to the run his predecessor, Joe Bunge, took the program on from 1997 through 2001.
During that five-year stretch, Naperville Central reached at least the state quarterfinals every year and made it at least to the state semifinals three times, highlighted by winning the 1999 Class 6A state title and getting to the inaugural Class 8A state title game two years later before getting upset by Downers Grove South, 34-31.
With revenge on Waubonsie Valley having been taken care of last week, by virtue of a 24-14 upset of the top-seeded Warriors, attention for the fourth-seeded Redhawks now collectively turns to a formidable Chicago Public League opponent in second-seeded Simeon (10-1).
Whether or not defending Class 8A state champion Naperville Central (9-2) will be able to lay claim to a second straight 10-win season and a third state semifinal trip in the last four years come early Saturday night may hinge on the start it gets off to against the highly explosive Wolverines.
Both of their two postseason victories against Brother Rice and Waubonsie Valley necessitated second-half comebacks and the Redhawks know better starts are going to be vital should they hope to keep their season alive.
“I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing: being able to battle through adversity in the first half,” senior linebacker Bobby McMillen said. “But as a team you need to be able to play, especially going into later on in the playoffs—you need to be able to play for 48 minutes, not just 24. So that’s one thing I’m sure our coaches are going to preach this whole week and in the weeks coming.”
The Iowa State-bound McMillen, who leads the defense with 124 tackles, intercepted one of three Zack Bennema fourth-quarter passes in the Redhawks’ 10-point victory over the Warriors last Saturday while also recovering a fumble on a muffed Keaton Casey punt that eventually led to a Kevin Clifford touchdown run.
Clifford ran for 248 yards and two TDs as his two fourth-quarter scores helped the Redhawks erase a 14-10 deficit against the Warriors while a 20-point fourth quarter the week prior helped them erase a 21-7 halftime deficit against the Crusaders en route to a 34-21 victory.
Clifford, who has run for 1,521 yards and 11 touchdowns on the year, will be looking to keep his success going against a stingy Simeon defense, with the help of the rest of his teammates.
“It’s just really about being 85 strong,” Clifford said following the victory at Waubonsie Valley last week.
Since opening the season with a 28-26 loss to St. Rita at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Simeon has rattled off 10 straight victories en route to reaching the fourth state quarterfinal appearance in program history, joining previous trips in 1990, 1992 and 2011.
The Wolverines have averaged 41.4 points per game during their 10-game winning streak and Hinsdale Central, by virtue of its 17 points in the Wolverines’ 55-17 Class 8A second-round victory, became the first team since Sept. 26 to reach double figures against the Wolverines’ defense.
“They’re a really good football team. They’re very athletic. They’re very well coached,” Stine said. “They’re a good football team. They’re not 10-1 by luck. They’re a good football team. They’ve got skill players at every position. They don’t make a lot of mistakes. It’s a huge challenge. Off the film, they’re going to be the best team we’ve played this year.”
In the Wolverines’ two postseason victories against Downers Grove South and Hinsdale Central, respectively, their senior offensive trio, quarterback Timon Watkins, running back Dion Earls, Jr. and wide receiver Matt Fleming, have taken turns getting their high-powered offense going.
Watkins had four total touchdowns while Earls, Jr. had 107 rushing yards as the Wolverines opened up the postseason with a 28-7 victory over Downers Grove South.
A week later against Hinsdale Central, Fleming put on a show of his own.
Fleming’s theatrics included catching two long TD passes from Watkins, in the midst of catching three passes for 118 yards and returning a botched snap on a punt 65 yards for a score while Earls, Jr. recorded 122 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
“I mean, they only run a few plays. But the plays they run, they run very well and they execute very well,” Naperville Central defensive coordinator Mike Ulreich said. “So they do have a few run plays. They run a few formations, a few plays. But they really block well. Their line (does) a great job of getting up to the linebackers, so we got to take away some of those things they do well.
“And in the pass game, (Watkins) is very accurate on the vertical passes, so there’s a lot of things (they do well). They make it tough for you to defend them, especially because they run the ball so well.”
Saturday will mark the second straight year and the fourth time overall Simeon has faced a Naperville-area school in the postseason.
As defending Class 8A state champions in 2008, Naperville North dispatched of the Wolverines, 42-16, in the first round while Neuqua Valley earned a date with the eventual Class 8A state champions a year ago after getting a hard-earned, 27-20 victory in the second round over the Wolverines.
Neuqua Valley coach Bill Ellinghaus had a friendly word of advice for his future conference mates as it looks to take the next step towards a possible Class 8A repeat.
“They were extremely athletic and their line play was better than I thought it was going to be, to be honest with you,” Ellinghaus said. “So when we saw them last year, we thought their line play was really good. We didn’t anticipate their line play being as good as it was.
“So coupled with the fact that they’re so athletic and they have so much team speed, they’re going to give anybody fits. But Naperville Central is physical and I hope that they come out all right. I’m always pulling for area schools.”
