Scott Mainquist and the University of Chicago feel differently about this year's 4-0 than last year's, perhaps because it includes a win vs. Rhodes. Photo by Steve Frommell, d3photography.com

For Scotty Mainquist, Schuyler Montefalco and many of their University of Chicago teammates, they traveled this road last year – a 4-0 start approaching midseason and expectations around the Maroons start to increase along the way.

But in 2013, the schedule got more difficult as Chicago lost four of its next six games and wrapped up the campaign 6-4 under first-year head coach Chris Wilkerson. And while many would take 6-4 considering how late Wilkerson came in during the offseason, Mainquist and Montefalco, captains on the Maroons' defense, said they don't want to repeat of that season.

In fact, despite the identical starts, Mainquist, one of the Maroons' defensive linemen and Montefalco, a linebacker, said there is a different feel with this year's team than the one that started strong but limped to the finish in 2013.

"I think we've all bonded together and all have a goal of picking up our game and being the best we can be," Montefalco said this week at Chicago prepares to travel to Texas for a big game against Trinity. "Everyone has made a commitment to this team. We're hungry (from last year) and ready to go out and get another win."

Mainquist said despite the fast start last year, players and coaches were still learning each other. He said with that hurdle gone, the Maroons are more comfortable with each other and what to expect each other on the field, which will give them the ability to handle adversity better.

"This year we were able to hit the ground running," Mainquist said. "Last year, we were all trying to feel out a new coach. We now know what he expects from us and we have a nice rhythm right now. Our expectations are high this year. When you have those expectations, you have to keep moving forward and fulfilling those expectations. This team has gotten better at doing that."

One sign of the Maroons’ maturity under Wilkerson was last week's game against Rhodes, a game dubbed the Blues Bowl. (Rhodes is based in Memphis.) The Maroons came back from a 14-6 deficit late in the third quarter to win 20-14, handing Rhodes its first loss of the season and avenging a loss to them last year.

"I think the Rhodes game was definitely a sign for us," Mainquist said. "It's an indicator that we're taking a step forward and we're maturing into a real contender. You're only as good as you were last year if you beat every team that you beat the year before and lose to the same teams. Beating Rhodes shows that we made some headway."

Wilkerson, in his second year at the helm, also pointed to the Rhodes said as a sign of his team trying to improve on what it has done a year ago, but admitted it won't mean much if the Maroons don't play well against Trinity (Texas) on Saturday.

"I think we just talked about taking next step and we faced a very good and very well-coached Rhodes team," Wilkerson said. "This week, we play another very good team in Trinity, who has lost to some very good teams and are usually one of the better teams in the modern Division III era so we're going up against some very talented kids."

With Trinity in his sights, Wilkerson did not want to get ahead of himself with the next game down the road, a date with No. 11-ranked Bethel -- a contest that could get the Maroon the kind of consideration it needs as Pool B team trying to make the playoffs.

"You know, a lot of those things are out of our control," Wilkerson said. "The only things we can control are the games we play each week, so I know we can't take our focus off of Trinity. I'm a believer if we can control what we can, all of those other thing will eventually fall into place."

One of those things you can't control came Sept. 27 when an unexpected arson at the air traffic control tower in Aurora, Ill., prevented Pacific to getting to its game with Chicago, cancelling the contest and leaving the Maroons with nine games this year.

"Pacific is one of the better teams in that region and were looking forward to the game," Wilkerson said. "There was nothing we could do about that. We had then a little extra time to work on Rhodes and get excited about our next opportunity. It's all about the process. If we take care of the process, the end result will take care of itself. All we're concerned with is about getting better each day."

Schuyler Montefalco holds the Blues Bowl trophy. Photo by Steve Frommell, d3photography.com

Wilkerson said he was pleased with way his defense, behind Mainquist, Montefalco and defensive back Vincent Beltrano, in leading the Maroons so far this season.

"Scotty plays at an extremely high energy and is one of those kids that the other players look to and he is a great leader by example," Wilkerson said. "Schuyler is an outside linebacker and makes a lot of those splash plays for us. Vinny was has been great on defense and special teams for us."

Offensively, Wilkerson said the progress of senior quarterback Patrick Ryan and his ability to move around and extend plays has added a new dimension to the Maroons offense. He is completing nearly 58 percent of his passes this season (47-82-1) with six touchdowns.

"Patrick has really paid his dues," Wilkerson said. "He has a unique skill set with his ability to extend some plays. We're still trying to play to the strength of our players. Patrick has given us a little different look in our passing game and little bit of look to the running game."

What will it take for the Maroons, though, not to repeat the fate of last year's team and give it a shot at making the playoffs, especially at one of the more academically challenging schools in the country?

"Well, we all knew what we signed up for," laughed Montefalco, about Chicago's legendary rigorous academics. In the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings, the University of Chicago was tied for fourth best university in the country with Stanford and Columbia.

"We know we're here for a reason and that we wanted to be challenged and off the football field. Coach always tells us that school comes first and football is an added bonus but the faculty is incredibly supportive. We want to do the best we can, whether it's in the classroom or on the football field and we feel blessed to have something to look forward to," he added.

Game of the Week

St. Norbert (2-2) at Carroll (4-0): It gets real in the Midwest Conference with the start of division play and this is a game that has become bigger than originally expected with the conference favorites taking on the MWC squad with the best overall record and probably the hottest running back in conference in Lamont Williams.