Hilltoppers win week 1 showdown

Updated: August 29, 2011 10:10AM

Every football player, however unrealistically, dreams of scoring a touchdown on Sunday on national television.

That dream became a reality for Max Bruere Sunday. Making his varsity debut, the Glenbard West junior tight end caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Justice Odom early in the first quarter, giving the Hilltoppers a lead they would never relinquish in a 21-7 victory over host Wheaton Warrenville South at Red Grange Field in Wheaton in the season opener for both teams that was televised by ESPN2.

The victory allowed No. 3 Glenbard West to snap the No. 2 Tigers’ 26-game winning streak and avenge playoff losses the past two years. WW South beat the Hilltoppers in the Class 7A state title game in 2009 and in the quarterfinals last year.

“I can’t even describe how amazing it is,” Bruere said. “Most people probably wouldn’t have thought I’d be the first one to catch [a touchdown]. Not everyone has it happen in their life, you know, national television in their first game.”

Bruere’s catch, the first of his varsity career, came five plays after Michael Marston intercepted a pass from Thaddeus Armstrong and returned it 29 yards to the Tigers 28. Bruere is primarily a blocking tight end, having caught only six passes on the sophomore team in 2010, though three went for touchdowns.

“I might be the second read on [that play] but they didn’t cover me,” Bruere said. “The safety didn’t cover me so I was wide open in the back of the end zone.”

The game, dominated by the defenses, stayed 7-0 until the fourth quarter, when Joe Zito scored on a two-yard run to increase Glenbard West’s lead to 14-0.

The Tigers’ opportunistic defense, which forced four fumbles, gave the hosts a chance to get back in it as Jack Lipinsky recovered a fumble at the Glenbard 22. One play later, Dan Vitale scored on a 22-yard run up the middle to cut the gap to 14-7 with 6:31 left.

WW South got the ball back but Weston Mariottini recovered a fumble at the WW South 32. That led to a game-clinching 18-yard touchdown run by Avery Balogh (11 carries, 83 yards) with 1:45 remaining.

“I think we just worked harder than them,” Bruere said. “We had more heart in it. They’ve taken our season away two years in a row, took it away in the state championship and we just had to say, ‘It’s done, we’ve got to find a way to beat them.’ So all of us worked hard this off-season and we were able to pull it off.”

Odom, a transfer from WW South, completed just one pass and was held to 64 yards rushing on 19 carries. He also lost a fumble which was recovered by Grant Meyer at the Tigers’ goal line just before halftime.

“I’ve never been so tired in my life,” Odom said. “[The Tigers] play great football. They’re really classy people. I was really surprised at the way they played and I have to really give them credit for the game.

“Our defense was magnificent. They were probably a little more tired than I was, but our offense will definitely progress.”

Led by 290-pound lineman Tommy Schutt, a Penn State recruit, Glenbard West’s defense held the Tigers to 43 yards rushing and 116 overall, including just three after a fumble recovery gave the hosts the ball at the West 5 early in the third quarter. Schutt had one sack before limping off in the fourth quarter with what Glenbard West coach Chad Hetlet said were leg cramps.

“Offensively our biggest fear is what we worked hard on; replacing a complete senior-dominated offense, including the offensive line,” WW South coach Ron Muhitch said. “We can’t score [from] the three-yard line, that’s embarrassing. Four plays and we don’t get it in. That’s the game.

“But Glenbard played extremely tough on the defensive side and they made plays offensively when they had to.”

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