Hawks take winning show back on the road

Fan support has been fantastic for Harper College's two home football games.

But the results haven't supported any home-field advantage for the Hawks. So they'll try to improve to 3-0 on the road at 1 p.m. today when they face Iowa Central College in a Midwest Conference game.

"I don't know if there will be an easy game, not with this many freshmen playing," said Harper coach Dragan Teonic. "It's so nice to have sophomores on the team and we just don't have that many."

Only seven second-year players will start for the Hawks (2-2, 1-2) against Iowa Central (2-1, 1-1). They will also be without starting quarterback Donny Walker (knee) and probably will be missing running back Billy Buehring (ankle).

It's also a matchup of the league's best passing offense led by Harper freshman quarterback Garrett Barnas against the league's top rushing offense fueled by Jake Peterson (333 yards, 2 touchdowns) and David Ferris (223 yards, 5 TDs).

"They pound it at you," Teonic said of a team that beat Harper 29-14 last year. "They play great 'D' and they're fantastic on special teams. They're a sound, disciplined group."

Teonic said the Hawks plan to tweak some schemes -- particularly on defense after last week's 43-27 loss to College of DuPage -- this week.

He also plans to give some snaps and experience freshman backup quarterback Matt Brandt.

And Teonic remains optimistic since everyone in the conference has at least 1 loss. The top four teams in Harper's East Division make the playoffs.

"The good news is this conference is wide open," Teonic said. "The whole thing is a crapshoot.

"If our defense comes to play and our quarterback (Barnas) continues to mature as a player we'll be a very good football team by the time the playoffs come."

Looking up: There was no shortage of good news for Harper volleyball this week.

The Hawks moved up a spot to No. 7 in this week's NJCAA Division III national rankings. They also get defensive specialist-outside hitter Diane Janik back from injury and former Maine East standout outside hitter Crissy Wise joined the team Monday.

Wise debuted with 6 kills and 6 aces as Harper (13-12, 2-0 N4C) romped past conference foe Triton 30-15, 30-17, 30-13 on Thursday.

But after facing Division II competition in a tournament today at Illinois Valley, the Hawks travel to COD on Tuesday an host third-ranked Rock Valley at 6 p.m. Thursday.

"(Today) could be good to help us with our new hitter," said Harper coach Bob Vilsoet, "or it could be bad because it could wear us out for an important game.

"I think it's better to play good competition. Every match is tough, which is cool."

And Vilsoet believes his team will be cool with the addition of Wise even though it figures to impact the playing time of others.

"I wish she would have started with us in August," Vilsoet said. "That would have been good because she could have used that month to get better. At the same time, we have another month to get her better.

"With this group I think we'll be OK (with her addition). We'll know a lot more this weekend."

Harper went 3-2 last weekend to tie for third at the College of Lake County tournament. Lisa LaMasse had 39 kills and 21 blocks, Christy Lima had 43 kills and 30 digs and Nikki Maize had 85 assists and 41 digs.

LaMasse continues to lead the nation in total blocks (69). Maize is third in the nation in assists (419) and fifth in digs (236).

Against Triton, Lima had 14 kills and Aprille Richter added 10 kills. Maize had 20 assists, 14 digs and 4 aces and Karlee Didier had 13 assists, 11 digs and 6 aces.

"I'm so impressed with the way they play together and play hard," Vilsoet said. "This team has put its heart and soul into every point."

One is the loneliest number: And 1 goal was all the College of DuPage men's and women's soccer teams needed to defeat Harper in N4C matches on Wednesday.

All of the defeats for the 0-4-1 men have been by 1 goal.