By Bobby Narang
The 2021 high school football season is set to be another historic journey into the unknown.
After the coronavirus pandemic pushed the 2020 season into Spring this year, and shortened the regular season to six games without a playoffs, the upcoming season is already bringing another set of issues, with the first games Friday, Aug. 27.
Some teams have struggled to complete schedules of games, thus forced to play out-of-state teams in the opener, such as Glenbard West will play host to Grandville (Michigan). Some teams didn’t pick up a week-one game until a few days before the start of the season, while other in-State schools were hit with COVID-19 issues that led to the cancellation of their openers.
But still, the 2021 Fall season is scheduled to go on, complete with a full nine-game regular season and playoffs. The games will be first Fall games in two years, in fact.
• The more things changed, the more they remain the same. Glenbard West, for example, is slated to remain one of the top teams. The Hilltoppers lost significant talent, at running back mainly, but have a strong, solid, group of returnees with plenty of speed. Junior Korey Tai is the starter at quarterback for the run-oriented Hilltoppers.
Glenbard West head coach Chad Hetlet, who has captured a pair of State championships, said he’s anxious to see how his team responds.
“I think we’re similar to all other teams we’ve had before, but in one way, we’re starting from scratch with culture because last year we missed that because we only played four games and our freshman only played two games,” Hetlet said. “I think from a personnel and scheme-wise, we’re still the same team, but almost teaching from the beginning and starting over from scratch.
“We’re young, but what we lack in experience we make up in speed and physicalness. We’re playing a lot of younger kids, mainly first-time starters, but we’re really fast and physical and I like that.”
• Naperville Central won all six games on the field in the Spring, but was forced to vacate its last three years of victories after the IHSA ruled that the program violated several by-laws related to student-athlete transfers. On the field, the Redhawks return a bevy of talent, especially on offense. Quarterback Owen Prucha, wide receiver Reggie Fleurima, and running back Niko Gordon comprise one of the best trios in Chicagoland.
“We have a core group of skill players on both offense and defense, but I think overall it will be our senior leadership,” first-year Naperville Central coach Mike Ulreich said of his team’s strength. “They had a great offseason and it should make a great impact on our team speed and physicality. Simply stated, our best players are our hardest workers. That’s usually a good recipe for success.”
• Neuqua Valley won all four games in the Spring, and brings back emerging star quarterback Mark Mennecke and linebacker Cole Dutkovich.
• Waubonsie Valley welcomed back 18 starters and has 28 seniors on its roster, with quarterback Nathan Pappas, running back Jabron Lee, and wide receivers Tyler Heibing and Luke Pettaway leading the offense.
• Metea Valley senior wide receiver Jalen Johnson established himself as one of the top football and track athletes in a breakout junior season. The Northern Illinois University football recruit joins a talent and motivated group of returnees, which includes quarterback Logan Frederick, wide receiver John Flynn, and offensive lineman Jake Pauline.