Halloween brought tricks instead of treats for the Wildcats. In their playoff game, every play felt like a battle for survival, but when the final whistle blew, so did their season. The field went silent, but their effort told a different story.
On Oct. 31, the Wildcats faced the Rams at Glenbard East’s football stadium for the second time after Senior Night. The Wildcats fought strong throughout the game. Hard work, dedication, and most importantly, teamwork, were the key factors. Though they were not able to advance into the second round of the playoffs and have not been able to for the last three seasons, they ended their season together as a family.
Once the Cats arrived on the field, they formed lines to begin their warmups. They gathered together and listened to coach Adam Chavez as he reflected on the ups and downs of their season. Each captain reflected with the team, and supported his teammates, not knowing if this would be the last and final game of the season – especially since Glenbard East has been a tough opponent, historically. The Rams have been undefeated in their conference this season; they only had one loss coming into playoffs against West Aurora. They are 8-1 in season, and 6-0 overall in conference.
“I felt good coming into the game, I knew it was going to be a tough matchup against East, but I had faith in our boys that we would give it all out there, and give our best effort, hopefully coming out with a win,” senior Joseph Mercadante said.
The Wildcats have been making history every season since Chavez took over as head coach: 2023 marked the first time in almost two decades the team has finished their season with a playoff bid. This year, West Chicago was 5-4 in season and 3-3(4th) in conference – roughly the same as last year.
“I came into the game feeling motivated and focused, I knew I had to after previously losing to Glenbard East, I felt like we had something to prove,” senior Luis Rubio said.
The Rams were quick to set the tone once the game began: they scored two touchdowns in the first quarter, giving them a head start with a score of 20-0. The Rams continued to dominate, putting an additional two touchdowns on the board though West Chicago managed to also secure some points.
Senior quarterback Carter Naranjo scored two touchdowns in the second quarter, leaving the first half with a score of 42-13. “Honestly, I was relieved: I was trying to score on every opportunity and was very tired but i was just focused on the next play,” Naranjo said.
A last defensive stop before halftime brought the energy that the Cats needed. During halftime, the Cats gathered to look at different ways to add more points to the scoreboard since they were falling short to the Rams.
The light rain and gentle breeze filled the chilling Halloween night as the Wildcats took the field with renewed confidence. The crowd roared, their cheers mixing with the clatter of the wooden ratchets echoed through the stands. Shortly after the third quarter began, Senior Jayden Rosario and Naranjo broke through with a series of touchdowns, energizing the rest of the team standing in the sideline, pushing to a score of 59-29.
During the fourth quarter, the Wildcats were unable to secure more touchdowns. The reality started to kick in for many. The clock reached zero and the Wildcats fell to the Rams with an end score of 63-29, the last game and the last season for many.
“I felt like it wasn’t real that I won’t be able to play with my brothers ever again,” senior Emanuel Lopez said.
The loss stung as the team gathered around: there was more than sadness in the air. For some it was farewell, for others, a new beginning. Every player knew this night would be remembered, not by the scoreboard, but for the bond they shared.
“Man, this team is everything to me. I’ve made life long friends playing with these guys and I wouldn’t trade it for nothing else,” Naranjo said.
Frowns turned into smiles after the team’s reflection with the coaches – in particular, Coach Adam Chavez’s comments. Chavez stepped up as West Chicago Community High School’s then-new coach back in 2022, bringing opportunities for the players, and changes for the program.
“He’s a good coach. Yes, sometimes he’s hard on us, but him being hard on us made us the best version of ourselves through our ups and downs,” Lopez said.