The game has been postponed until 7:30PM Saturday
No. 19 Neuqua Valley (2-1, 2-1 DuPage Valley) @ Wheaton Warrenville South (1-2, 1-2 DuPage Valley), 7:30PM
Last week: Neuqua Valley beat Waubonsie Valley, 28-7; Wheaton Warrenville South lost at Glenbard North, 28-6
Storyline: In a lot of ways, Neuqua Valley’s indoctrination into the DuPage Valley Conference begins Friday night.
After opening up the season with three teams it has routinely played every year – Metea Valley, Naperville Central and Waubonsie Valley – Neuqua Valley meets Wheaton Warrenville South for the first time ever.
The Wildcats’ visit to Wheaton and Red Grange Field comes on the heels of their 28-7 victory over Waubonsie Valley last week.
Nick Osikowicz recorded his second multi-touchdown game against the Warriors in running for 55 yards and two scores while Isaiah Robertson snagged a TD pass from Jack Stankoven and hauled in a pick-six.
Neuqua Valley’s defense permitted the Warriors’ offense just 205 total yards as it’s allowing just 11.7 points a game through three weeks.
The Tigers, meanwhile, are coming off a 28-6 loss at Glenbard North – their second straight defeat after losing 17-13 at Lake Park in Week 2.
The Panthers’ defense picked off five passes as Tigers’ junior quarterback Jack Maher threw for just 76 yards.
J.J. Johnson, who gained 73 yards on 13 carries, missed the second half of the loss to Glenbard North for the Tigers with an ankle sprain.
In response to Michael Stebbins breaking his collarbone in Wheaton Warrenville South’s loss at Lake Park, Johnson and Maher were splitting snaps before Johnson went out with his injury.
A win allows the Wildcats to keep pace with Naperville Central whereas a loss could put them two games in back of the Redhawks in the DVC race.
Neuqua Valley coach Bill Ellinghaus on Wheaton Warrenville South: “When you talk DVC, Wheaton Warrenville South has been part of the DVC … I’m not sure how long right now – but year in, year out they’re right near the top. They’re very well-coached. They’ve had great teams. They got a good team right now and I expect this to be a great football game. I really do – with a playoff atmosphere.
“They’re really big and they play really physical. I feel like their offensive and defensive lines are very good and that’s something we got to work to try to win the line of scrimmage battle.
“As a program, I think it’d be a huge win for us. I told the kids today you don’t get many firsts anymore, being that we’re 19 years old. This is a chance to get a first. It’ll be the first time we’re playing at Red Grange Field, first time we get to play Wheaton Warrenville South and then to get a win – I just think it’d be huge for our program.”
