Glenbard West, WW South might not be done just yet
It's possible you might see Glenbard West and WW South back in Champaign at the end of next season.
Among the Hilltoppers' returning offensive players will be receiver-running back Nick Burrello, who rushed for 76 yards and caught a 27-yard pass in the title game, and offensive linemen Johnny Caspers and Jordan Walsh, a Division I college prospect.
Defensively, Glenbard West returns four of its top seven tacklers from Saturday's game including safety Mike Laning, linebackers Tim Hollowed and Justin Mesch, and linemen Tommy Schutt and Zach Marshall.
WW South doesn't return as many starters, but they'll still be tough offensively behind quarterback Reilly O'Toole, who threw for over 2,000 yards and 24 touchdowns, running back Matt Rogers, offensive lineman Luke Luhrsen and tight end Jason Schuman. The defense brings back lineman Sparty Chino, linebacker Jack Eshelman and safety Caleb Bednarz.
"Hopefully we can make it back down here next year," Walsh said. "We'd love to play them again."
Title tough: WW South makes a strong argument for having the state's toughest schedule in 2009.
The Tigers played their nonconference slate against Hinsdale Central and two-time Class 8A champion Maine South, they faced a rigorous DuPage Valley Conference lineup, and then played Geneva, St. Rita, East St. Louis and Glenbard West en route to the state title.
WW South played all four 2008 finalists in Class 7A and 8A.
"I'm really proud of the fact that every week got tougher, and every challenge was greater," Muhitch said.
The convert: Nick Campanella was the cream of the crop of displaced Driscoll players. Coming from Montini's greatest rival could have meant trouble, but he said there was none.
"(Andriano) opened his arms and he introduced me to everyone," Campanella said. "He told everyone that it's better to be nice, but they already were nice to me, so it didn't really matter. They asked me to go out to lunch the first day I came. They accepted me, they appreciated what I could bring to the table."
Campanella ran 13 times for 117 yards in the title game and made 5 tackles, 2 for loss. He sat out a play after a knock to the shoulder and said he felt like throwing up during the game but knew he had to suck it up for his coaches and teammates.
"Coach A's my guy. I love that man. I've never met a guy so jolly and nice, and he's one of the best coaches I've ever had," Campanella said.
"It was sad that I couldn't finish out my senior year and play with all my brothers that I used to have at Driscoll. Now I have brothers at Montini, and I'll love them forever."
The final word: "Our team deserved what happened to them today, because they just hung in there and they were resilient the whole game," said Andriano, who figures to coach three more years and then reassess. "We would not go away - we would not go away. We told them all week long we're not backing down, and our kids just hung in there the whole game."