It was probably their destiny.
Growing up the son of a coach, Zach Urwiler figured football was just part of the family DNA for him and younger brothers Quinn and Trey. Their dad, Mooseheart executive director Gary Urwiler, had two stints as the coach of the Red Ramblers covering 15 years.
“From the time we were 5, we were ball boys, tee boys and water boys for dad’s teams,” Zach said. “We were at every game and practice. We participated in all the drills that didn’t require contact.
“It’s just kind of crazy. I remember getting the blocking pads out in the summer so we could hit each other just for fun. Then we’d try to do P90X (DVD workout) sessions with the big boys, thinking we were pretty cool.”
It appears to have served them well.
Zach is a senior who starts at running back and cornerback for surprising Marmion (5-0), where his dad serves as his position coach on offense.
“Zach went to Mooseheart his freshman year and the plan was to have them all go there,” Gary Urwiler said. “It turned out it probably wasn’t the best placement, and since Zach is really interested in the military, we thought this was the best option and he came here sophomore year.”
Zach Urwiler has rushed for 341 yards and five touchdowns this season. He has caught 12 passes for 228 yards and three TDs.
“He’s extremely competitive and goes hard in every drill in practice and on every play,” Marmion coach Dan Thorpe said. “He has 4.48 speed in the 40, good hands and really paid the price in the offseason lifting weights.
“He also gives us excellent verbal leadership. He’s really saying the right thing.”
His younger brothers, however, both opted to go to Batavia.
Quinn, a sophomore, is a starting outside linebacker on the varsity and has 30 tackles, one sack, nine quarterback hurries and two pass deflections for the Bulldogs (5-0).
“Pretty good, huh?” Batavia coach Dennis Piron said of Quinn. “He’s also our long snapper. He can play running back, too. Next year, I could see him as part of a running back by committee.”
Freshman Trey starts at running back for the undefeated sophomore team. So heading into Week 6, the Urwiler family is a combined 15-0.
It has made for wild and crazy ride this fall for the entire family, especially Donna, who has to wonder at times if she’s coming or going as their mother.
“It all goes on my calendar,” she said. “At Batavia, the varsity has two team dinners a week (provided by moms), the sophomores one, and with Zach being a captain, the captains’ moms at Marmion (have responsibilities).
“And then there’s the concession stand. Gary’s lucky he’s coaching.”
If both teams are at home on a Friday, Gary Urwiler will try to catch the first half of Trey’s sophomore game, then leave for Marmion. Donna also spends most of her time at Marmion since it’s Zach’s final season.
She has split time between both schools when both were at home.
“I’ve got two years left,” an understanding Quinn said.
The boys, meanwhile, can’t help but consider the possibility that Marmion and Batavia could meet in the playoffs.
Thanks to the IHSA’s multiplier, Marmion has a classification enrollment of 1,742 students, separated from Batavia (1,929) by only 187 students.
“Quinn and I got to play together one season on the Fox Valley Gators,” Zach Urwiler said. “It was one of the best seasons I can remember. We ran the wishbone and both of us played running back.
“If we ran left, it was me carrying the ball. If we ran right, it was Quinn. We won so many games, it was such a blast.”
Donna said there’s an increasing amount of trash talk going on at her dinner table.
“I would want to hit him really hard,” Quinn said of playing against Zach.
The eldest brother was more diplomatic.
“We watch each other’s games on Hudl,” Zach said. “I’ve been praying for that (playoff matchup). I wouldn’t care if we lost or won. It would be the best thing ever.”
Twitter @RickArmstrong28
