Glenbard West, Glenbard...

...East, Glenbard North, Glenbard South, Glenbrook North, Glenbrook South -- it's all very confusing. Just remember, Glenbard West is the alma mater of Sean Hayes (above). Got it?

Seriously, Glenbard West was christened as such in 1959 when Glenbard East was established in nearby Lombard. Before that, the school was known simply as Glenbard Township High School. It acquired that name in 1922 when Glen Ellyn High School moved to its current location from the second floor of the DuPage Bank Building. (I am not making this up.)

The football stadium, Bill Duchon Field, was originally under water -- Lake Ellyn -- and the property was sold to the Park Board for one dollar. In 2001, the 5,000-seat stadium was recognized as one of the top ten places to watch high school football in the country by USA Today. Huh. I'll let you know what I think after the game Saturday.

The football team is coached by Chad Hetlet and competes in the West Suburban Conference, which was founded in 1924. Before Hetlet took over the Hilltoppers in 2007, the program had only 125 players at all levels. Today it has over 200. Hetlet arrived at Glenbard West from McHenry High School, where he took over the program from Glenbrook South's Mike Noll. Is McHenry High the new "Cradel of Coaches," or something?

Running back Nick Burrello (above) appears to be the big stud on Glenbard West. I don't have any statistics on him, but he looks like the go-to guy on an offense which averaged over 33 points a game this year.

"Nick is a special kid," Hetlet said before the season. "He's got a lot of speed, he's a talented runner and he's gotten so much stronger and faster from last year. That's who we're going to lean on this year to make plays for us."

Burrello is joined in the backfield by Beau Warden and Kendall Johnson. The offensive line is solid, featuring the Iowa-bound Jordan Walsh (above), Johnny Caspers, Ross Green, Adam Smith and Nick Garland. The quarterback spot is a question mark, however, as Daver Glawe has been called upon to take over from the injured starter, senior Mike Matthew.

The defense, which allowed an average of just over seven points a game before the Lyons fiasco, will have its hands full this weekend with Plainfield North's Kapri Bibbs. It will be up to Tommy Schutt, Mike Laning, Andrew Larkin, Mike Marston, Craig Olsen, Zach Marshall and Justin Mesch to contain the Tiger phenom.

This is probably what the contest will hinge on. If they succeed, the Hilltoppers will get another shot at Wheaton Warrenville South, whom they lost to in the 7A championship in double overtime last year.

The Hilltoppers' 2010 schedule, in a nutshell:

Glenbard West 41, Glenbard South 7
Glenbard West 21, Downers Grove South 16
Glenbard West 28, Hinsdale Central 7
Glenbard West 42, Oak Park 0
Glenbard West 41, Proviso West 15
Glenbard West 41, Addison Trail 7
Glenbard West 27, York 10
Glenbard West 47, Downers Grove North 7
Lyons 31, Glenbard West 13