Champing at the bit

Warriors raring to take on '06 state title winners

Week 2 football at Waubonsie Valley means blinding lights, a roaring crowd and an electric atmosphere. It's what Wheaton Warrenville South calls just another Friday night, but what the Warriors always regarded as a test of maturity and team strength.

"Sometimes in the past," Waubonsie coach Paul Murphy said, "I felt like we were ready to play, but when we got there - if you're not used to playing in that kind of atmosphere all the time it can throw you off kilter."

The Warriors (1-0) have faced the powerhouse Tigers (1-0), who have collected five state titles in the last 15 years, including last season's 44-21 thumping of Mt. Carmel, in the second week since at least 1996.

The Warriors have a 2-9 record in the series and in Murphy's two seasons at Waubonsie the team fell 42-13 in 2005 and 35-0 last year. But this week the third-year coach noticed something different about his team in practice.

After a 28-21 win over Naperville Central, the Warriors found themselves in noticeably different circumstances after the Week 1 victory. Instead of beating Oswego East, they'd beaten an opponent with one of the best football reputations in the state.

"They beat a good Central team and quite handily I might add. I was there," said WW South coach Ron Muhitch, who watched the game last Saturday.

On Monday morning, teachers congratulated the Waubonsie players as they garnered smiles and pats on the back from everyone. Beating Central was a big deal for the 18 returning starters who came up in Murphy's system.

"The atmosphere on Monday was something they're not going to forget," Murphy said. "That has really helped. We're stepping on the football field with a lot of confidence."

Ranked ninth in this week's Associated Press Class 8A poll, Waubonsie faces a sixth-ranked WW South squad that returns just four starters (two offense, two defense) but also has plenty of confidence.

"They're the defending state champs and they have all the momentum," Murphy said.

Senior quarterback Michael Piatkowski, who saw a lot of playing time in the second half last season, directs a young but athletic Tigers team. In last Friday's 20-6 win over Hinsdale Central, Piatkowski hooked up with new wide receivers Chris Schweighardt and Mike Sloboda on touchdown passes. Piatkowski completed 11 of 22 passes for 154 yards as the Tigers stretched their winning streak to 15.

WW South also has a threat on the ground with running back Francis Adarkwa, who rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown, and backs Mike Olp, Tobias King and Peter Jarrett.

Although the Tigers may be young, they still have depth at the most important skill positions and can spread the ball around, much like Waubonsie did on Saturday.

Junior quarterback Tyler Castro, who threw touchdown passes to three different receivers in Week 1, will lead the Warriors. Castro finished 11-of-21 for 145 yards and hooked up with Drew Warden, Ty Williams and tight end Ben Smith for the scores.

Waubonsie also has a strong ground game with running backs Kenny Harrington (20 carries, 182 yards and one touchdown), Scott Mankivsky (13 carries, 59 yards) and Rich Tronolone (11 carries, 46 yards).

Although it was Harrington who broke away for a key 32-yard touchdown last week, Mankivsky also broke free on a big run that was called back due to a penalty flag.

"Scott and Tronolone were blocking for Kenny on a lot of those runs," Murphy said.

Given that the Warriors have size on both sides of the ball and a veteran defense that spent a lot of time on the field against WW South last season, Muhitch and his young squad are taking the Warriors very seriously.

"I think this is one of the best Waubonsie Valley teams that we've seen in a while, going back all the way to the mid or early '90s," Muhitch said.

Contact Dustin Michael Harris at dharris@scn1.com or 630-416-5273.