For participants, it was the longest game
So much anticipation built up in the days leading up to Saturday's Class 7A championship football game between DuPage County rivals Wheaton Warrenville South and Glenbard West.
By all accounts the showdown - a 31-24 double-overtime win by WW South - lived up to the hype and then some. More than a game, it seemed like a marathon.
"We told our kids it'll probably go down as one of the better games in state history," said Hilltoppers coach Chad Hetlet. "Everybody tells you that when you get here, enjoy the time because you're going to get on the field and it's going to be over before you know it. That game seemed like it took forever, I'm not going to lie."
Classy bunch: By winning the Class 7A championship, WW South became only the second football program in state history to win titles in four different classes.
Joining Bloomington Central Catholic, which last season became the first program to accomplish the feat, the Tigers have won in Class 5A (1992), Class 6A (1995, 1996, 1998), Class 8A (2006) and, now, Class 7A.
Magnificent Montini: Joliet Catholic coach Dan Sharp, very gracious in defeat, said a reason for Montini's improvement from a 5-4 regular season to playoff juggernaut was better offensive balance. He was proven correct.
Montini ran the ball 30 times for 160 yards. Quarterback Brandon Pechloff completed 16 of 28 passes for 189 yards. Joliet Catholic ran the ball 57 times for 350 yards, but was 0-of-8 passing - 0 of 4 from its own 19-yard line in the last 32 seconds.
On the game-winning drive, Pechloff was 5-of-6 passing for 54 yards with a third-down conversion and the touchdown pass to Christian Westerkamp - then followed it with the perfect low-and-away conversion pass to Westerkamp.
Cornerback Kevin Dailey and safety David Zirko led Montini in tackles with 11 apiece. Each also forced a fumble, as did Nick Campanella.
Montini's offensive line of seniors Kevin Loveless and Nick Esposito, juniors Mac Robinson, Tom Dybsky and Pat Suffield averaged 220 pounds. Senior Rob Piper's 210 pounds would have lowered the average, but a knee injury knocked him out of the playoffs. A captain, he was in uniform helping hoist the Class 5A trophy after the game.
Senior linebacker-receiver Ryan Gorrell, who made 8 tackles and recovered a fumble, said, "We wanted to put Montini on the map, and I think going against a perennial powerhouse like Joliet Catholic and beating them in the state championship game, that says something for our program."
Twice the fun: Saturday's win by WW South conjured memories of the first of the six state championships won by the Tigers, a 40-34 win over Joliet Catholic in 1992.
Like Saturday's win over Glenbard West, that victory 17 years ago came in double overtime.
"The Tigers are tough in two overtimes," Tigers coach Ron Muhitch said with a laugh.
Pechloff magnificent: All season it was plain Montini's fortunes were tied to the confidence and production of its 6-foot-6 all-state quarterback, who entered the season heralded despite being a first-year starter.
Thoughts of early criticism returned when he threw 2 interceptions and Joliet Catholic capitalized with touchdowns. But Pechloff's often brilliant abilities carried the day. He finished his season with 43 touchdown passes, smashing Montini's prior record of 26 and tied for seventh on the IHSA list.
Asked during the postgame press conference about any statement made to potential college recruiters, Pechloff said: "I made a statement to myself. I don't really care about college right now. I wanted to win a state championship."
Alone, he became more reflective.
"This is my exact offense," Pechloff said, then took a very deep breath. "It's so rewarding. I didn't get (notice) junior year, didn't get time to show myself to the nation or anyone. People just knew me for, like, camp stuff. And to finally get a chance to prove it on the field, on the biggest stage in the state, is an amazing feeling."
Of the winning play - which Pechloff and Westerkamp switched from an out-and-in to a slant-and-out - Pechloff said: "We've been running that play every practice. I'm a little sick of it. I'm just glad it finally paid off.