Football Preview: Glenbard West at Wheaton Warrenville South

Glenbard West at

Wheaton Warrenville South

When: Sunday, 11 a.m.

Where: Red Grange Field, Wheaton Warrenville South High School, 1993 Tiger Trail, Wheaton.

Television: ESPN2 (Locally: Comcast Channel 35, Dish Network Channel 144, DirecTV Channel 209, WOW Channel 34)

2010 records: Glenbard West: 10-2, 5-1, lost to WWS in the Class 7A quarterfinals; Wheaton Warrenville South: 14-0, 7-0, defeated Lake Zurich for the Class 7A state championship.

Series record: This is the 71st meeting between the two schools. Wheaton Warrenville South leads the series 32-27 (there have been 11 ties).

Coaches: Glenbard West: Chad Hetlet (fifth season, 41-9 record); Wheaton Warrenville South: Ron Muhitch (10th season, 96-17 record).

KEY PLAYERS:

Glenbard West offense: Avery Balogh, RB, Sr.; Johnny Caspers, OT, Sr.; Kendall Johnson, RB, Sr.; Justice Odom, QB, Sr.

Glenbard West defense: Andrew Larkin, LB, Sr.; Matt Marston, DB, Sr.; Michael Marston, DB, Sr.; Tommy Schutt, DL, Sr.

Wheaton Warrenville South offense: Thaddeus Armstrong, QB, Sr.; Ryan Graham, QB, So.; Patrick Garner, RB, Sr.; Dan Vitale, RB, Sr.

Wheaton Warrenville South defense: Adam Dansdill, LB, Sr.; Jack Lipinsky, DE, Sr.; Brandon Peterson, LB, Sr.; Evan Welsh, DL, Sr.

ABOUT THE GAME:

Let the countdown to game time begin for this long-anticipated nationally televised matchup between two longtime rivals and two of the best teams in Illinois.

Graduation hit both teams hard—Reilly O’Toole, Titus Davis and Matt Rogers for the Tigers; Jordan Walsh, Mark Hiben and Nick Burrello for the Hilltoppers. But with a mix of returning standouts and new faces, neither club is short on talent by any means.

The backdrop for this contest is well-known. WWS, which has won the last five meetings between the two schools, has ended Glenbard West’s season two years in a row—a 40-20 triumph in the 7A quarterfinals last November, along with a dramatic 31-24 double overtime victory for the 2009 Class 7A title. And the Hilltoppers haven’t forgotten.

Glenbard West has traditionally been a running team, and will get off the bus running once again with Division I recruit Caspers opening holes for Johnson and Balogh. The Hilltoppers also have a new threat in Odom, a transfer from, ironically, Wheaton Warrenville South whose mobility could open some passing lanes.

The Tigers will likely rely more on their ground game—which features Garner and Vitale, the versatile Northwestern signee—early in the season while working in a new quarterback. As of Wednesday, Muhitch said he has not yet made a decision as to who will start at QB on Sunday—Graham, the sophomore whose father, Dan, was a standout lineman at Wheaton North, or Armstrong, a senior transfer from Class 5A Ottawa High School.

Which team’s defense rises to the occasion may very well determine the outcome of Sunday’s showdown. WWS’ defense will be its strong suit with four returning starters from last year’s championship team. Penn State-bound Shutt and the Hitters also have a formidable defense, and will give the Tigers’ all-junior offensive line all it can handle.

Quoting Glenbard West head coach Chad Hetlet: “We’re preparing to play one of the best teams in the state, and I don’t care who they’ve lost. They’re still going to be one of the best teams in the state. They’ve got a Division I running back [Vitale] and the other kid’s [Garner] really good. They’re as well-coached as anybody in the state of Illinois and those kids expect to win. In the big scheme of things it’s one game, but it’s a different thing. It’s a bit of a rivalry between us right now. We want to be where they’re at. It’s at their place and we want to beat them on their field.”

Quoting Glenbard West offensive lineman Johnny Caspers (asked if Glenbard West is out for revenge on Sunday): "Definitely. They’re a great football program but they’ve ended my season two years running, so it would really be nice to get a win.”

Quoting WWS head coach Ron Muhitch: “Glenbard West has great speed. We also know their quarterback; he played for us two years ago in our program. Justice is a great kid and a great athlete, and they can do a lot of things with his talent. I know his talent and he’s got a real good arm. Both schools are playing with a new group of kids in a lot of ways, but that’s the thing about good programs: Good programs create new names every year and new stories. Both of these teams are going to have a chance to do some really good things down the stretch.”

Quoting WWS running back Dan Vitale: “It doesn’t get any better than this, especially for a first game, a season-opener. They’re definitely our biggest opponents right now. I don’t think they really like us too much and there’s a big rivalry just based on past games. There’s huge excitement, and I can’t wait.”