On its face, seven victories and a Class 8A second-round loss may not have lived up to the recent standards set at Neuqua Valley.
But giving Neuqua Valley’s 7-4 record in 2015 a closer look, the program’s first year in the DuPage Valley Conference, circumstances for a 1-3 finish can be explained pretty easily.
“We overcame a lot of adversity,” Neuqua Valley coach Bill Ellinghaus said. “I don’t too many teams that can say they lost six kids to torn ACLs and two starting MIKE linebacker and you’re at your third MIKE linebacker. We changed up our defense over and over and over and over again just because we kept on losing kids.
“We were really, really banged up and that’s kind of the tale of our season. We just didn’t have enough. We kind of didn’t have enough at the end, based on having to putting guys in, next man up. At some point, we just didn’t have quite enough.”
The torn ACLs suffered by Luke Sawicki in August and Jon Rhattigan in a Week 2 loss at Naperville Central dramatically changed the complexion of what the Wildcats were able to do defensively.
Despite the massive injuries, a five-game winning streak following a 14-7 loss at Naperville Central had Neuqua Valley’s DVC destiny in its control for a possible share.
Two home losses to Lake Park and Glenbard North to end the year may have put an end to those hopes, but a Class 8A first-round upset of Hinsdale Central showed a glimpse of its 6-1 start.
“I think that we actually probably did better than a lot people expected going into the DVC when we did,” Ellinghaus said. “These seniors, as freshman and sophomores, were average teams and then we go into a tougher conference.
“I thought jumping out to the start we had was a credit to these guys and what we were able to do with them. But certainly nobody’s happy with the way we finished. I was very proud of the way we bounced back after losing the last two games of the season and to win round one.”
As far as 2016 is concerned, the return of Isaiah Robertson and Owen Piche on offense and Anthony Ippolito and Rhattigan on defense gives the Wildcats a good base to build around.
Whereas Broc Rutter was a two-year starter in 2013-14 after Dylan Andrew quarterbacked a 12-win team in 2012, Jack Stankoven won out in the quarterback battle in August.
Ellinghaus anticipates there will be another strong competition to succeed Stankoven as Robertson and Piche will provide two dynamite weapons as seniors.
Robertson, the Co-DuPage Valley Conference Defensive Captain of the Year, recorded 50 receptions for 803 yards and nine TDs to go with 81 tackles and four interceptions.
“Isaiah is a special player and no matter where you put him on the field, he’s going to be a difference-maker,” Ellinghaus said. “And he was certainly a difference-maker all year long for us. He’s going to have a great senior year and the thing that I love about Isaiah is he’s a great leader.”
Piche, Robertson’s running mate at receiver, caught 30 passes for 462 yards and two touchdowns to go with 216 rushing yards.
Rodney Jones’ defense will bring back four of its top seven tacklers – Ippolito, Robertson, Casey Larson and Tommy Ciesla – and Rhattigan will hope to bounce back after his ACL injury.
Robertson, Piche, Ippolito, Rhattigan, Griffen Philgren and Greg McClellan are just some of the few 16 juniors that saw extended time for the Wildcats this fall.
As the program looks to year No. 2 in the DVC in 2016, the experience those juniors gained over the course of 11 games this year could prove to be invaluable.
Adding in an influx of sophomores who went 7-1 this year as juniors in 2016 only adds to the optimism heading into next year.
“We feel good about our young kids coming up and we feel good about our juniors that will be seniors next year,” Ellinghaus said. “We got some real good leaders out there, so the future is bright. But the DVC has great competition across the board, so I know some the schools that we played this year were young, as well, and Waubonsie being one of them. They’re young as well, so it’s a dogfight every year and a lot will depend on how well these kids do in the offseason getting themselves ready.”
