Glenbard West’s treasured Duchon Field is a unique setting for numerous reasons, not the least of which is the field itself.
The uneven grass surface is mostly mud this time of year, and while Hilltoppers receiver Alec Pierce reports that this fall’s mild weather has kept it in decent condition, Wednesday’s rain may have taken care of that.
Even though he plays a position that relies on speed and stable footing, Pierce hopes so, because speed is the calling card of Glenbard West’s next opponent.
“With a really fast team like Homewood-Flossmoor,” Pierce said, “it really helps.”
As for Homewood-Flossmoor, the Vikings have concerns, but the field isn’t chief among them.
The marquee matchup of the weekend is a showdown between No. 2 Homewood-Flossmoor (10-0) and No. 6 Glenbard West (8-2), last year’s Class 7A champion and the owner of an 17-2 postseason record since 2012, in the second round of the Class 8A playoffs at 1 p.m. Saturday in Glen Ellyn.
“I think the field is what it is,” Homewood-Flossmoor coach Craig Buzea said. “Obviously we don’t play on grass or practice on grass. That is an excuse if you want to make it an excuse.
“The fact is the team we are playing didn’t lose a game. They had some marquee players injured in the games they lost, and when they got them back they became a significantly better-looking team.
“They are as good a coaching staff as any in the state — game preparation, halftime adjustments, and their system is good, therefore they put a product on the field that is top-notch. Chad (Hetlet) and his staff do a remarkable job. We are trying to get to where they are.”
The underdog card Buzea is playing to his dynamic team — the Vikings have outscored the opposition 435-115 — worked well for Hetlet and his “Hitters” against a tough opponent on the road last week.
Perhaps more reliant on the passing game than any of Hetlet’s previous teams, West got big games out of Pierce (four catches, 159 yards) and Cole Brady (10-for-17 passing, 240 yards, 3 TDs) and a 31-yard field goal from Logan Ryan in the closing seconds of its 31-28 “upset” of Neuqua Valley in the first round.
“That was good for our confidence, especially our kicker,” said Pierce, a 6-foot-3 junior who is the brother of former Glenbard West basketball star Justin Pierce. “Our offense is great right now. Cole is throwing the ball great.”
Buzea never expected these Vikings to be as good as last year’s version, which dropped a thriller to eventual 8A champion Loyola in the quarterfinals.
Just six of his players had seen meaningful postseason action prior to last week, a 49-21 home victory over Evanston that he called “uninspired.”
“We have to turn it up 100 notches to beat these guys,” Buzea said. “They are a different animal. The amount of preparation it takes to play them is crazy.”
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
No. 2 Homewood-Flossmoor at No. 6 Glenbard West
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Winner advances to quarterfinals against Oswego or Edwardsville.
