West Aurora High School football head coach Nate Eimer received pats on the back and offers of handshakes near the end of the first-round playoff Class 8A game Saturday night against visiting South Elgin. That started late in the fourth quarter when West Aurora led by two touchdowns. Coach Eimer, however, refused handshakes while the game was going. West Aurora had not won a playoff game since 1994 long prior to Eimer’s tenure as head coach. What did he tell those he refused to shake their hands while the game was going? “It’s the playoffs. No team is going to quit.” West Aurora won, 28-20, however, South Elgin scored a late touchdown and recovered an on-side kick. South Elgin did not tie the score. West Aurora will leave for downstate Edwardsville at 9 a.m. Saturday, stop midway for a walk-through, and arrive around 3 p.m. for a 5 p.m. game in round two. Eimer said about the victory over South Elgin. “(Defensive lineman) Denver Warren had his best game of the season. Zach Jacobson did a great job fielding punts.”
• Honor roll: Boys soccer super-sectional champions include Naperville North and Lake Park; other sectional champions include Marmion, Fenton, St. Edward. St. Edward took second place in Class 1A State meet last weekend.
• More honor roll: Girls volleyball regional champions, York, Glenbard E., Naperville N., Benet Academy, Downers N., Waubonsie Valley, St. Charles E., St. Charles N., Kaneland, Montini, IC Catholic Prep, Aurora Christian, Newark.
• Girls cross country sectional champions: Naperville N., Yorkville, Burlington C..
• Boys cross country sectional: St. Charles E., Downers S., Wheaton Warrenville S., Kaneland.
• Waubonsie Valley High School’s football team upset Bolingbrook in the first round, 38-21. Warriors’ head coach Paul Murphy: “We outplayed them in all facets. We out-hit, out-executed, played with a lot more energy and passion than Bolingbrook.”