Last year, Lincoln-Way East...

...was the only team to beat Class 8A champs Bolingbrook (on the road, no less) and finished the season 10-1. I was at two of those games: Bolingbrook, and the Griffins' heartbreaking 7-0 loss at home to Wheaton Warrenville South, which ended their season (and the high school career of quarterback Blake Winkler).

This year, Coach Rob Zvonar, above, has the Frankfort squad playing their first six games against teams that had winning records in 2011. The list includes Carmel (7-4), Montini (12-2 and Class 5A champs), Lockport (7-4), Homewood-Flossmoor (8-4), Sandburg (6-4) and Bolingbrook (13-1). Whew!

The Griffins finish up against Lincoln-Way Central, Joliet and Joliet West.

Congrats, Coach Zvonar (looks like a high school football coach, doesn't he?), you have a schedule that rivals Loyola's.