Sounds like a Covert operation
A dominant ground game. Quickness on the defensive line, speed at linebacker.
A quarterback who doesn't throw a whole bunch but hits the big play when he does.
A key player hurt early in the season who makes a motivational comeback in the playoffs.
That's Glenbard West football ... back in 1983.
The 2007 Hilltoppers share similarities with the last "Hitters" squad to reach the state semifinals, the 13-0 Class 5A champions of 1983 coached by Jim Covert.
"We were very good defensively back when we had our state championship team," said Covert, the 1997 Illinois Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee who led Glenbard West to 11 playoff appearances in 19 seasons from 1977-95.
"We had really good outside linebackers, and that's what they have with Kyle Krumwiede," said Covert, who on Monday subbed in class for this year's coach, Chad Hetlet. "Our defensive line was very quick and very mobile, and their middle linebacker this year (Garrett Richards) is excellent.
"I think the big difference I see is a little more breakaway speed at the running back spot. (Quarterback) Chris Hart was a very good thrower. We didn't make make a living throwing, but Chad's team doesn't either."
Covert's 1983 backfield featured slashing 1,800-yard rusher Jim Konopka and power back Curt Ostrowski. While those two ran over people if they couldn't run around them, Covert also likes the current duo.
"You've got (Robert) Cook and (Bryant) Venson, they're not really big, but they use their blockers well. When they get out they can make that 7-yard run into a 70-yard run. It's really exciting."
Covert recalled his 1983 fullback-linebacker, Bobby Cvengros, who was injured in the preseason scrimmage, and again during the season. Cvengros didn't reappear until the semifinals against Tilden (which had future Naperville Central coach Joe Bunge as an assistant).
This reminds Covert of current Hilltoppers co-captain Marty Detmer, who suffered a broken leg in Week 2 against Leyden but returned for a few offensive series in last week's 35-7 quarterfinal win over Downers Grove North.
Covert noted that Detmer's father, also named Marty, played on Glenbard West's 1976 team that was the Class 5A runner-up in coach Jim Duchon's final season before handing the program to Covert.
Maybe it's not surprising there are similarities between these Glenbard West squads a generation apart. Covert rattled off the names of Hart, Cvengros, Dave Seidler, Rich Jensen, Brian McWherter and Andy Andreasik who played on the 1983 squad and later coached in Glen Ellyn's youth programs.
One area Covert can't find a comparison is with all-state offensive lineman Chris Watt.
"I really don't think a team at Glenbard West has had a lineman as good as Chris Watt," Covert said. "He's really, really special.
"Initially he's got great quickness, he has great balance when he blocks, he sustains his blocks. He'll stay on a guy, and he's very competitive. He'll try to pancake people."
Covert noticed that in the Hilltoppers' playoff opener against Wheaton North, the Falcons' answer to Watt's ability was "to try to submarine him."
It may have worked initially, but Covert said Watt took considerable enjoyment in executing plays that required him to pull off the line and throw a block. That he did with vengeance.
"He's really just a wonderful kid, but when he puts that uniform on he just goes after it," Covert said.
On Saturday Covert will be at Duchon Field watching Glenbard West host East St. Louis. Then he'll be off to serve as the color man on the Comcast broadcast of the Class 8A semifinal between Bartlett and Maine South.
He's been a regular on prep football broadcasts and IHSA football specials for a number of years.
That type of coverage is one difference between Glenbard West football now and in 1983. "I'm hoping we can win one more because I do the 7A championship game," Covert said. "That'd be a lot of fun, but I'd have to be impartial."
doberhelman@dailyherald.com