Maine South jumped out to a two-touchdown lead Saturday and then held Neuqua Valley, 14-13, to advance to the Class 8A semifinals.

Neuqua Valley head coach Bill Ellinghaus said that he wanted his team to start fast. The Wildcats did just that, scoring on their first drive of the game en route to a 34-13 victory over the DeKalb Barbs to get to 8-0 on the season.

With the Barbs not making the playoffs this year for the first time since 2012, they are setting their sights on an upset of Class 8A No. 2 Neuqua Valley

Mark Mennecke threw for 188 yards and a touchdown, and ran for a touchdown, and Neuqua Valley shut out Wheaton Warrenville South until the final minute of a 26-7 win on Friday in Wheaton.

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Wheaton Warrenville South hosted Neuqua Valley in the second week of the football season on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021.

Sports reporter Jake Bartelson has live coverage from Friday night’s Wheaton Warrenville-South vs. Neuqua Valley football game here

Week 2 provides a number of interesting matchups before most teams enter their conference slates.

Neuqua Valley victimized Oswego with several big plays, holding off a Panthers' comeback for a 37-26 win on Friday in Naperville.

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Neuqua Valley hosted Oswego in the varsity football season-opener on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021.