Glenbard West football misses shot at first downstate bid in 25 years

The moment couldn't have been scripted any better.

Glenbard West High School's football team was seven points down and 35 yards from pay dirt.

Only 3.4 seconds on the clock.

A touchdown here, and the Hilltoppers would stamp their tickets to Champaign - and the school's first shot at a state title in 25 years.

But sadly, the team from East St. Louis High School got in the way Saturday in Glen Ellyn.

"It was a good game, I just wish Glenbard West would've won," said Jack Bremer, an alum from the class of 1971 who watched it with fellow alum Marc Henry.

"The running back from (East St. Louis) was very tough," Henry said. "Their school was just better today."

The Hilltoppers fell 27-20 to the downstate Flyers in an anticipated showdown that had the entire town buzzing all week. Signs along Main Street rooted on the school, and even a few locals running for office next spring couldn't help but bask in the school's reflected glory.

"I'm wearing my 1966 Hilltoppers pin," said Chris Wilson, one of seven candidates who spoke at Saturday's Civic Betterment Party elections at the Glen Ellyn Civic Center.

Matt Ludington, who lives across the street from the school, decided to celebrate by hosting a tailgate on his front lawn.

"We see these kids walking up and down this hill every Saturday," said Ludington, who got in the spirit of the game by painting "GW" on his cheeks. "It doesn't get any better than this."

Fifteen-year-old Evan Berry watched alone along the edge of the football field's fence as the Hilltoppers' season came to an end. During a pep rally at the school the day before, Jim Covert, the coach of the school's 1983 state-title winning team came to rev up the school.

"He said the crowd needed to get into it," Evan said. "It was all on us. I guess it didn't work out very well."