Health & Fitness
CN100 Game of the Week preview: Football - Wheaton Warrenville South vs. Glenbard West
Wheaton Warrenville South takes on Glenbard West on the CN100 Game of the Week.
GLEN ELLYN – When a big football game is in the offing, fans and media are usually drawn to the skill positions when talking about the anticipation of the game.
In Saturday’s much anticipated tilt between Glenbard West and Wheaton Warrenville South, however, the focus is right where the coaches and players want it to be: In the trenches.
Wheaton Warrenville South returns its entire offensive line and Glenbard West features two stud defensive ends. It’s likely that match-up will have much to do with the final outcome in one of the state’s premier games in Week 1, which will be shown on CN100, The Comcast Network, at Noon and 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 26, and at 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 28.
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“It starts there as far as the game is concerned,” Glenbard West coach Chad Hetlet said of the lines. “It’s very rare to have all five linemen back. We have to battle to control the line of scrimmage. The defense has a big test ahead of them. We love that, that’s what we pride ourselves on. Our lines have been a big part of the success the past five years.”
Frank Garcia, Kyle Joyce, Joe Kirsch, Ryan McCarthy and Rich Metzger make up the offensive line Wheaton South will field to protect junior quarterback Ryan Graham. He had an interesting route to the starting job. Graham split time with transfer Thaddeus Armstrong last year and then saw Casey Paraday move in for summer workouts. Near the end of the summer, however, Paraday moved and Graham became the definitive starting quarterback.
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Running back Dan Vitale graduated to Northwestern, but Brandon Adams and Ben Jackson will work to replace him. Graham’s most intriguing weapon is senior receiver Corey Davis, the younger brother of former Tigers standout and current Central Michigan receiver Titus Davis.
Star defensive end Ruben Dunbar, one of the top uncommitted seniors in the state, anchors Glenbard West’s defense. Fellow three-year starter Nick Garland bookends him on the other end.
“Ruben Dunbar is a special player for us,” Hetlet said. “He’s a very explosive player who moves well for a kid who is 260 pounds. Hopefully he’ll be able to control the offensive line.”
Defensive tackle Tommy Schutt (Ohio State) and offensive lineman Johnny Caspers (Stanford) graduated, but Glenbard West has plenty coming back. Senior Harry Haeffner, who has never lost a game at any level, takes over as the starting quarterback for Justice Odom. Tight end Nathan Marcus (Vanderbilt), three-year starter Joey Zito and intriguing newcomer Scott Andrews are among Haeffner’s top offensive weapons.
Be sure to tune in to see Edgy Tim’s “Keys to the Game.” Check out edgytim.com for more great local prep sports coverage.
- Paul Johnson, CN100 Correspondent
Stay up to date on all of CN100's games this season by visiting www.cn100.tv/game_of_the_week.aspx or at www.facebook.com/gameoftheweek. Find us at twitter.com/CN100GOTW. Also, check out the Battle of the Fans section at www.facebook.com/battleofthefans to see who has the biggest and wildest fans. Each week, catch up on the best in Chicagoland prep sports with CN100 Sports Weekly. Check it out at http://www.cn100.tv/sports_weekly.aspx or at www.facebook.com/sportsweekly.
