CN100 Game of the Week Football Preview: IHSA Playoffs First Round - Brother Rice vs. Naperville Central

NAPERVILLE – The road to a second straight Class 8A state championship starts on a difficult note for Naperville Central.
The Redhawks welcome a team that may be more battle tested than any in the state in Brother Rice for the first round. The 7:30 p.m. Friday kickoff will be broadcast by CN100 at Noon and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1, and at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 3. You can also find the game throughout Chicagoland with Xfinity On Demand.
“We played one of the toughest schedules in the state, most likely in the Midwest,” Brother Rice coach Brian Badke said.
Brother Rice (6-3) was co-champion in the rugged Chicago Catholic Blue, with its lone loss coming at the hands of Providence 45-42 in Week 8. Their other two losses came to teams out of Illinois, Brother Rice (Mich.) and Brebeuf (Ind.).
“Their players will be battle tested from the tough schedule they play,” Central coach Mike Stine said.
The Redhawks (7-2) saw a seven-game win streak snapped by a desperate Wheaton Warrenville South team last week. The Tigers won 27-20 to sneak into the playoffs and share the DuPage Valley title with Central.
Central has hung its hat on senior running back Kevin Clifford all season. He posted 1,243 yards and nine touchdowns rushing. Junior quarterback Conor Joyce keeps defenses honest, going 78-of-139 for 879 yards and two touchdowns, adding four rushing touchdowns. His top target is senior Michael Kolzow (39 catches, 522 yards, TD).
Defensively, senior defensive lineman Joe Schweikart has nine sacks and 19 tackles for loss. Junior DB Garrett Purdy contributed five interceptions. Senior linebacker Bobby McMillen leads the team with 98 tackles. The Redhawks returned five interceptions for touchdowns, each coming from a different player. Junior Emmanuel Rugamba took one 99 yards and junior linebacker Rick Hatton, who has three interceptions, had scored on a return of 96 yards.
Central also features a weapon in junior kicker Connor Assalley, who has scored 42 points this season.
Brother Rice boasts the Catholic Blue co-Offensive Player of the Year, senior Marcus Jones, who ran for 752 yards and 13 touchdowns, while adding 26 catches for 464 yards and four more scores. He has also swatted down 12 passes defensively.
Senior quarterback Alex Alarcon registered a dynamic season, going 141-of-237 for 1,961 yards and 16 touchdowns. He added 529 yards and seven scores rushing. His top target is sophomore receiver Ricky Smalling (56 catches, 830 yards, nine touchdowns). He also spreads the ball to junior Julian Blain and senior Zach Hayes on the outside.
“I would say they will be the best team we have faced this season,” Stine said. “Their offense is explosive and puts up big numbers. The QB is a special player that makes their offense hard to defend. They have a dynamic RB and WR. It will be a huge challenge for our defense.”
Junior DB Jordan Boyd leads the team with 65 tackles and three interceptions. Senior defensive lineman has 47 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and three sacks. Senior linebacker Jim Opoka contributed 54 tackles.
“Their defense runs well and gets to the ball,” Stine said. “They are physical up front and they have great athletes in the secondary.”
- Paul Johnson, CN100 Correspondent
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