Football teams from the DuPage Valley Conference make their debuts in the new Southwest Valley Conference this season.
BENET
The Redwings (4-5) bring back all-conference senior quarterback Ryan Kubacki Jr. and eight other starters, including senior offensive lineman Michael O’Rourke and junior offensive lineman Jack Sciortino. Senior Joe Rodi (Butler recruit) moves from interior lineman to tight end. The defensive line will be strong with senior Declan Walsh (St. Thomas) and returning all-conference pick Liam Rooney, a senior who has interest from Ivy League programs. Senior Marty Radgowski is an emerging two-way starter at receiver and defensive back.
METEA VALLEY
The Mustangs (0-9), which last won a game on Sept. 23, 2022, joins the new Southwest Valley Conference in the Red Division, along with Naperville Central, Andrew, Lincoln-Way West and Sandburg. Senior linebacker Brandon Noe, an honorable mention in the DuPage Valley Conference last year, returns and has been named a team captain.
NAPERVILLE CENTRAL
The Redhawks (8-3) will be tough to beat on defense, where seven starters return, including senior defensive ends Troy Kashul and Jake Stanish (Buffalo), senior nose guard Jason Figg and senior linebackers Aaron and Daniel Nussbaum. Senior Garrett Nichols (Brown), a transfer from Texas, joins seniors Gavin Wade and Nick Zbylut, both returning starters at safety, in the secondary. The offense is led by senior running back Aiden Clark and senior offensive linemen Daniel Conway, Connor Sands and Will Erbeck.
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NAPERVILLE NORTH
Senior quarterback Jacob Bell (Ball State) figures to get more opportunities to showcase his arm strength and will have plenty of good targets, including seniors Brock Pettaway, Ian MacConnachie and Quinn Morris, a transfer from Plainfield East. Junior lineman Gabriel Hill, senior lineman Donavan Howard and versatile senior cornerback Kaiser Williams (Northern Iowa) lead the defense for the Huskies (6-4). They join the Southwest Valley Blue with Neuqua Valley, Homewood-Flossmoor, Lincoln-Way East and Lockport and aim to win a playoff game for the first time since 2010.
NEUQUA VALLEY
The Wildcats (7-4) have only nine returning starters, but the defense features senior defensive back Nick Pape and junior defensive back Andrew Hoffmann, who are returning all-conference picks. Hoffmann led the team in interceptions last season. Senior linemen Rocco Dubiel and Ethan Padilla and senior linebacker Zach Schaefer also return. Senior linemen Ryan Mascari and Isaiah Johnson, senior running back Will Beaman and senior receiver Sean Anshel headline the offense.
WAUBONSIE VALLEY
First-year coach Adam Pucylowski inherits a senior-heavy roster, and he’s optimistic that experience will be a strength and help the Warriors (4-5) play at a faster pace as they join the Southwest Valley Green with Bradley-Bourbonnais, DeKalb, Lincoln-Way Central and Stagg. Two-way senior Stefan Popov is one of four returning starters on the offensive line, and senior Chrisjan Simmons returns at running back. The secondary has three returning starters: seniors Josh Hung, Owen Roberts and Joshua Tinney.
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.