Saturday, August 26
1:30 p.m.
Bill Duchon Field
594 N. Ellyn Ave., Glen Ellyn
Preview
This is a rematch of last year’s season opener, which went to the wire. And that game’s primary protagonists, Julius Ellens (Glenbard West) and Marc Coy (Marist), return.
At Marist last year, the Hitters took 21-0 and 27-7 leads over the Redhawks before holding off a comeback and escaping with a 33-31 victory.
Marist missed a 45-yard field goal with 13 seconds left that would have won the game.
Filling in for starting running back (RB) Joey Pope (Western Michigan), who was out after an appendectomy, then-junior Ellens had 120 rushing yards, 108 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
Marist RB Coy had 140 yards rushing and three touchdowns of his own.
Ellens currently holds ten college scholarship offers, including offers from Indiana State, Illinois State, Eastern Michigan, Old Dominion, the University of New Hampshire, Army, Navy, Air Force, Kansas State and Fordham. His younger brother, Mason, a junior wide receiver/defensive back, holds an offer from Toledo.
Coy has offers from Ball State and St. Thomas (Minn.).
Defensively, Glenbard West returns leading tacklers Ben Starmann (6’3, 220) and Ben Cesario, who had a key interception against Marist, and three-year starters Rhett Pierce and Danny Coffey II (6’1, 285).
For Marist, linebacker Duke White had 101 tackles in 2022. Junior defensive end Brad Fitzgibbon (6’4, 250) is a Division I prospect, holding offers from Central Michigan, Miami (OH), Akron, Bowling Green, Toledo, Ball State, Buffalo and Arizona State.
Teams
Glenbard West
West Suburban Silver Conference
Enrollment: 2,322 (2022)
100th Season (first team in 1923)
570-314-33 all-time record
State Championships: 3 (1983, 2012, 2015)
State Runner-Up: 2 (2009, 1976)
Marist
ESCC/CCL Conference
Enrollment: 1,613 / 2,662 with IHSA multiplier (2022)
48th Season (first team in 1975)
290-191-0 all-time record
State Championships: 0
State Runner-Up: (1986, 2009, 2015)
Coaches
Head Coach Chad Hetlet, Glenbard West
17th Season, 161-28 all-time record
State Championships: 2 (2012-7A, 2015-7A)
State Runner-Up: 1 (2009-7A)
Playoff Appearances: 16 in 16 seasons
Head Coach Ron Dawczak, Marist
6th Season, 46-15 all-time record
Playoff Appearances: 5 in 5 seasons
Records
Glenbard West
2023: 0-0, Season Opener
2022: 11-2, lost 31-7 to Lincoln-Way East in IHSA 8A Playoff Semifinals
Marist
2023: 0-0, Season Opener
2022: 7-4, lost 27-21 to York in IHSA 8A Playoff Second Round
Last Meeting
Aug. 27, 2022
Hilltoppers defeated the Redhawks 33-31
Players to Watch
Glenbard West
WR Julius Ellens (5’10, 175, Sr.)
DT Danny Coffey, II (6’1, 285, Sr.)
LB Ben Starmann (6’3, 220, Sr.)
OL Erik Lonvick (6’2, 255, Sr.)
TE Ryan Segebarth (6’3, 220, Sr.)
DB/RB Mason Ellens (5’11, 160, Jr.)
LB Rhett Pierce (6’0, 185, Sr.)
LB Ben Cesario (6’1, 190, Sr.
LB Eli Limouris (5’10, 180, Sr.)
DB Mateo Guzman (5’10, 155, Sr.)
DB Joey Campanella (5’8, 160, Sr.)
DB Will Meyer (5’8, 155, Sr.)
Marist
RB Marc Coy (6’0, 205, Sr.)
QB Owen Winters (6’1, 190, Sr.)
WR Cooper Cozen (6’2, 180, Sr.)
OL Rico Schrieber (6’7, 320, Soph)
OL Jacob Pacheco (6’0, 245, Sr.)
OL Luke Becker (6’2, 265, Sr.)
LB Duke White (5’11, 216, Sr.)
DB Darrell Jackson-Mitchell (5’9, 165, Sr.)
DB Jack Tomkins (6’0, 180, Sr)
DL Michael Maloney (6’1, 225, Sr.)
DL Brad Fitzgibbon (6’4, 250, Jr.)
DL Dontay Fort (6’2, 230, Sr.)
DL Davon Watson (6’3, 315, Sr.)
Season Schedules
Glenbard West
Week 1: vs. Marist
Week 2: at St. Louis (Mo.) De Smet Jesuit
Week 3: vs. Downers Grove North (WSS)
Week 4: at Lyons Township (WSS)
Week 5: at Leyden (WSS)
Week 6: at Hinsdale Central (WSS)
Week 7: at York (WSS)
Week 8: vs. Proviso West (WSS)
Week 9: at Oak Park-River Forest (WSS)
Marist
Week 1: at Glenbard West
Week 2: vs. Brother Rice (ESCC/CCL)
Week 3: vs. Loyola Academy (ESCC/CCL)
Week 4: at St. Ignatius (ESCC/CCL)
Week 5: at I.C. Catholic Prep (ESCC/CCL)
Week 6: vs. Joliet Catholic (ESCC/CCL)
Week 7: vs. De La Salle (ESCC/CCL)
Week 8: at St. Patrick (ESCC/CCL)
Week 9: at Notre Dame (ESCC/CCL)
