North Senior Hopes for First Win Against South

Football games are won and lost in the trenches. That adage holds true from pee wee leagues to the pros.

Senior defensive end Conner Edwards has been manning the trenches for Downers Grove North's varsity football team ever since breaking into the Trojans' starting lineup as a sophomore in 2008.

That year, Edwards experienced what every player shoots for at the start of each season–a postseason berth, and with it, a chance to win a championship. The Trojans knocked off heavily favored Wheaton Warrenville South in their first-round Class 7A contest, then shut out Proviso East in the second round before falling in quarterfinal play to Glenbard West.

"It was a huge year for us," Edwards said. "It was pretty sweet playing on a team as a sophomore that went to the Elite Eight. It was a big thing for me. It was good to get that much experience as a sophomore, and playing on that team really helped me my junior year and made me play with a lot more confidence."

The Trojans, unfortunately, fell on hard times last year, finishing 1-8. However, they were competitive in most of their games, and lost three by a combined 14 points. Edwards said the team is using 2009 as motivation for this year.

"I think this offseason we took a lot more seriously than we did last offseason," he said.

"At 1-8, it really didn't tell our season, though," Edwards said. "You can't say 'We should have won these games,' but we were in a lot of those games where it could have gone either way. It just came down to (the fact that) we had a long of young guys that had less experiences, but this year coming back, we have a lot of experience."

Downers North dropped its 2010 season-opener to Lockport–ranked 10th in last week's Class 8A Associated Press state poll–but blasted Willowbrook 42-14 to end a nine-game losing streak dating back to Week 2 of last year. However, the Trojans suffered a tough 35-28 loss to Lyons Township in their West Suburban Silver opener last Friday.  

"We approached the season with high expectations this year," Edwards said. "Every day is getting better for us. We're doing the little things, and focusing on defense this year because that was our real problem last year."

Edwards is a name that has long been associated with gridiron success at Downers North. Conner's older brothers, Tom and Garrett, both quarterbacked the Trojans–Tom from 2002 to 2003 and Garrett from 2004 to 2005.

The Trojans won the Class 7A state title in 2004 as Garrett passed for 900 yards and 11 touchdowns while rushing for 1,700 yards and 25 TDs.

"The family has meant a lot," said Downers North head coach John Wander. "The Edwards family has brought a toughness to our program which we need."

No matter which Edwards brother has been on the field for Downers North the past few years, it's guaranteed each made a mental note of when the Trojans would play Downers South. This year's showdown takes place Friday night, and it's the last time Conner will suit up for the big game.

He's hoping 2010 is the year Downers North gets a "W" over its crosstown rival, which has defeated the Trojans four straight years.

"My sophomore year I remember playing Downers South," Edwards said. "It was a rainy day. We lost 21-0. Our offense couldn't really move the ball but it was a pretty good game. Since I've been on varsity we haven't beaten South. This year, we feel like we have a good shot. South is always a great game because you've got that extra motivation."

"It's a nonconference game, but you don't have to really rev them up for this game because it's bragging rights of the town," Wander added. "They've (Downers South) had the upper hand, so our kids, they want to have those bragging rights.

"Really, I try to downplay it because they're going to do that (be pumped up for the game) on their own," Wander said. "I'm much more excited and (will) rev them up for York (whom the Trojans face Sept. 24) than I will be for Downers South."

Many players from both teams know each other. For example, Conner is friends with South lineman Justin Norwood. They played youth football together as members of the Downers Grove Panthers.

"I played with him when we were younger," Conner said. "I saw him at 7-on-7 (summer football) and he said he was going to be playing. He's a guy who I played with on the Panthers and he's a good guy."

Conner isn't about to give South fodder for its locker room bulletin board as far as making a prediction on the game's outcome. But he does have this to say in regards to Friday night:

"I predict that it's going to be a very close game," he said, "and I'll guarantee you that Downers North is going to come out hard and play fast and we're going to bring our defense."