Rick Armstrong’s football notebook

Paul Murphy said he’ll leave the decision up to his senior quarterback, Jack Eddy.

“He’s gonna get a ton of support,” the Waubonsie Valley coach said. “If he wants to play, he’ll play.”

Eddy’s mother, 48-year-old Laura Ann Eddy, died Saturday at Hinsdale Hospital. She was a nurse in the NICU at Hinsdale Hospital for more than 20 years. She lost her battle with cancer (melanoma) one day after her son and his team posted their third win of the season against West Chicago.

A 10 a.m. funeral is scheduled for Thursday at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 801 S. Eola Road, just a short distance from the high school.

Murphy said members of the team would walk together from the school to the church to attend the service in support of their teammate and his two older sisters, Jillian and Leslie, who survive their mother along with her parents, three sisters and one brother.

Laura Ann Eddy’s nephew, Brock Westwood, is a senior defensive back for the Warriors.

“Jack was not in school this week but he was at practice Monday and Tuesday and said it was his mom’s wish that he play this week,” Murphy said. “Jack is a fine young man. Sometimes the focus of playing football gets your mind off a tragedy. We don’t know how he’ll be. We’ll have to see, but our football players will rally around him.”

Waubonsie Valley is scheduled to play its Homecoming game at 7:30 p.m. Friday against Bartlett.

Balluff has knee surgery

Kaneland senior running back Jesse Balluff had surgery Tuesday to repair the torn anterior cruciate knee ligament he suffered Sept. 13 in a game at Sterling.

“It was a real emotional week last week,” Kaneland coach Tom Fedderly said. “He’s such a leader to the team and worked so hard for the last four years.

“He tried to make a cut on a play at Sterling and it gave out. He wasn’t hit on the knee on the play.”

Balluff had a standout junior season after coming off knee surgery on the other knee his sophomore year. He had impressed recruiters at several camps in the summer, had a scholarship offer from Colgate and was expecting more offers.

Balluff rushed 36 times for 273 yards and five touchdowns in just two-plus games for the undefeated Knights.

Player of the Week

Marmion senior Seth Sevenich had two interceptions, two pass breakups and caught a touchdown pass in the Cadets’ 28-10 win at Marian Central. Undefeated Marmion plays host to undefeated Montini in a Suburban Christian Blue showdown Friday.

Play of the Week

Javon Montgomery’s leaping grab of a Collin Seyller pass for an 81-yard score in Plano’s comeback win over Peotone was selected as the National Play of the Week by Hudl Studios on youtube.com.