Major goal still within North's reach
By KEVIN DRULEY – kdruley@kcchronicle.com
St. Charles North football players still recite their preseason goals, even the ones other teams turned over on downs.
Beat St. Charles East? Nope – the Saints eked one out, 14-13, in double overtime. Win the Upstate Eight Conference title? Even tougher when those same crosstown rivals finish the league slate undefeated.
North's third objective might be the true charmer, and it remains alive as the team prepares to host Elk Grove Village in an IHSA Class 7A second-round playoff game tonight. A win against the Grenadiers would ensure the program's deepest postseason run in nine years of varsity football, eclipsing its only other second-round appearance in 2005.
"We'd really love to do that, to be that team," senior defensive tackle Josh Peters said. "We think we can, and that's what's important."
North considered clinching a seventh-straight playoff berth a formality after racing to its first 3-0 start in September. Something clicked among players that simply playing past Week 9 for the seventh straight year could be more than an item checked off a to-do list.
Unable to make it to 4-0 against Waubonsie Valley, the North Stars won three straight again before losing to South Elgin – a game they avenged in the first round six days ago.
A week before, players left Norris Stadium sulking over a loss to East that ended on a failed point-after. They've since found reason to feel better about missing their first two goals, though: with the Saints' first-round loss to Hononegah, North is the lone St. Charles football team still playing.
Mark Gould, the only coach in program history, remembers each postseason separately, even though the playoff streak includes a pair of games against Moline.
"I think every year has been something a little bit different," Gould said, "but I think the common thread in a lot of games you lose, when you look back, are going to be fumbles or penalties that have killed drives.”
Make no mistake, the North Stars think that's important, too. Call it a goal within a goal.
Class 7A: Elk Grove Village (7-3) at St. Charles North (7-3)
When: 7 p.m. today
Last playoff appearances: Elk Grove Village last made the postseason in 2004. St. Charles North qualified last season.
About the Grenadiers: The world – er, the offense – revolves around junior quarterback Nick Meyer. Elk Grove knocked off Harlem, 28-21, last week on his contributions alone. Meyer returned the opening kickoff for an 80-yard touchdown while throwing for 304 yards and three touchdowns. A defensive back, he also collected two interceptions. Kyle Pfister caught the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter, but North coach Mark Gould might be more concerned about his contributions at linebacker. Along with Joey Bishoff, he leads a quick, aggressive group that Gould says resembles North.
About the North Stars: North already figured to be without senior co-captain Jordan Huxtable after he suffered a knee injury during last week's first-round win at South Elgin, and also might be minus defensive end Brian Pedersen for the second straight week for unspecified reasons. Junior Michael Claney stepped in against the Storm, joining an otherwise all-senior unit that allowed the second-fewest points in the Upstate Eight Conference this season. Dual-threat quarterback Jake Bergren is joined at the skill positions by running back Ben Hodges and 6-foot-4 receivers Josh Mikes and Jeff Stolzenburg.
Bottom line: North limited another prolific passer – South Elgin's John Menken – last week, and knows that will be the challenge again here. If an experienced defense can bring pressure and weather the loss of Pedersen, North should be in line for the first quarterfinal appearance in school history.
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