'Red Grange would be proud of this matchup'

When they were freshman, this year’s senior class at Glenbard West opened up their football careers with a contest against Wheaton Warrenville South. How ironic those players will go out the same way, albeit with a lot more riding on the outcome in Saturday’s Class 7A state title game.

“We haven’t played them since the first game of our freshman year, but they’re still our local rival,” Tiger defensive end Matt Ives said. “We’re excited to play them.”

The last time the two teams met, the Tigers’ varsity squad walloped the Hilltoppers 48-7 in the first game of the 2006 season. But the rivalry dates back decades to when West was simply known as Glenbard High School and South was still known as Wheaton High School.

“Red Grange would be proud of this matchup,” Muhitch said. “Glenbard and Wheaton go back a long way.”

All the way back to the days of leather helmets. The current players, wearing high-tech pads and molded-plastic helmets, can’t wait for kickoff.

“We’ve wanted to play Glenbard West the whole year,” Tiger defensive captain Shane Dierking said. “Ever since we lost the Maine South game they’ve been getting a lot of the press.

“They’re a great team with a great offense and great defense. They’re a lot like us.”

One player who wasn’t around to play Wheaton South as a freshman was quarterback Tyler Warden, who started off his high school career at St. Francis before transferring.

“It is ironic to start off high school with your first game against Wheaton South,” the senior said, “and then end it with them the last game of your career.

Regardless of Saturday’s score, the two programs, no doubt, have made Central DuPage proud.

“Both of us making it there (to the 7A finals) shows suburban football as being top level,” Glenbard West’s Will Caspers said.