Preps 24/7: Week 2 notes, quotes

Here are a few more tidbits from around the area as we get ready for kickoff to Week 2 of the football season:

• St. Charles East coach Mike Fields believes the Saints steered things back on course this week following a season-opening, 56-7 loss at Carmel.

"We did not play well at all last week, and we know that," Fields said. "This week, we've been preaching getting better day in and day out, and I really feel we're starting to do that.

"This is not last year's team. We've got to find our indentity for this year's team. This week, I really like what I saw with their effort and their intensity."

Fields knows the Saints will need it againt traditional power Naperville North, which features Boston College recruit Nick Lifka at linebacker.

•Geneva's running back trio of Connor Quinn, Joe Cella and Dylan Nobregas each excelled behind a new-look offensive line at Rock Island, but the Vikings' execution through the air left coach Rob Wicinski looking for more.

"We need to get our passing game going," Wicinski said. "Getting guys out into green grass and being able to pitch and catch."

Junior Matt Williams converted a handful of big plays in his first start under center (he played receiver last year), and continues to gain comfort with wideouts Doug Berthold and Ben Rogers.

"These guys definitely work at it," Wicinski said. "We'll get there."

•Wheaton Academy coach Ben Wilson, on the Warriors' Saturday game at St. Joseph: "It will be a good test for us, being our first road game." The Warriors enter the contest with plenty to feel good about. Quarterback Tommy Decker threw for four touchdowns against Westminster Christian (Mo.), while the defense allowed just six points.

• The worldwide leader in headaches? With the Week 2 game between 8A and 7A champions Maine South and Wheaton Warrenville South getting plenty of play -- and ESPNU airtime at 4 p.m. today -- here's an interesting read about how a California community responded to ESPN's presence for a game last week.