Naperville North hasn't had...

...a winning season since 2013, when the Huskies finished 5-4. They haven't had a winning year over all since 2010, when they finished 8-4. And North hasn't started out a season 5-0 since 2008, when it won its first ten games and went 10-1, losing narrowly in the second round of the playoffs to Marist, 28-25.

Neuqua Valley, also undefeated at 5-0, hasn't started out a season this well since 2012, when it won its first twelve games, finishing 12-1, with a disappointing loss at home in the semifinals to Mount Carmel, 26-21. (I was there.)

This Friday the two schools will meet at Naperville North (above) in what should surely be the Game of the Week.

Neuqua is ranked No. 4 in the Sun-Times, No. 5 in the Tribune and No. 6 in MaxPreps. The Huskies, meanwhile, are ranked No. 11 in the Times, No. 12 in MaxPreps and No. 13 in the Trib.

Each has beat two winning (3-2) teams so far. The Wildcats defeated Naperville Central and Waubonsie Valley (home team in CAPS):

NEUQUA 35, Metea Valley 7
NEUQUA 24, Naperville Central 10
Neuqua 24, WAUBONSIE VALLEY 17
NEUQUA 48, Wheaton Warrenville South 19
Neuqua 35, BISHOP CHATARD (IN)

While Naperville North beat Wheaton North and Glenbard North:

Naperville North 42, SANDBURG 14
NAPERVILLE NORTH 41, Metea Valley 40 (OT)
Naperville North 33, WHEATON NORTH 7
Naperville North 28, LAKE PARK 23
NAPERVILLE NORTH 21, Glenbard North 13

Since 2005 the two programs have split their twelve match-ups evenly, with Neuqua having the advantage in recent years:

2015: NEUQUA 34, Naperville North 7
2014: NAPERVILLE NORTH 14, Neuqua 13
2013: NEUQUA 34, Naperville North 27
2012: Neuqua 43, NAPERVILLE NORTH 20
           Neuqua 56, NAPERVILLE NORTH 20 (playoffs)
2011: NEUQUA 37, Naperville North 23
2010: NAPERVILLE NORTH 29, Neuqua 28
2009: Naperville North 28, NEUQUA 21
2008: NAPERVILLE NORTH 41, Neuqua 19
2007: Naperville North 41, NEUQUA 14
2006: NAPERVILLE NORTH 17, Neuqua 14
2005: NEUQUA 33, Naperville North 14

Can the home team Huskies upset the higher-ranked Wildcats Friday night and start the 2016 season 6-0? Or will Neuqua prevail, climb the rankings and look for a possible post-season showdown with Loyola?

See you at the game!