Rams’ magical season to be tested
Glenbard East coach John Walters paced up and down the sideline Wednesday as he watched his team prepare to host East St. Louis in a Class 7A secondround playoff game Saturday.
Two things looked unusual: the Rams practicing this late in October and the beard on Walters.
‘‘My wife says it ages me,’’ Walters said. ‘‘But I’m not shaving it until we lose.’’
Walters hasn’t shaved since before Glenbard East’s 36-7 victory against South Elgin in Week 5. The Rams are 10-0 for the first time in school history, and Walters isn’t taking any chances.
It has been a historic season for Glenbard East. This year marked the first time since 1999 it made the state playoffs and the first time since 1965 it won its conference.
‘‘I’m not really surprised we’re in the position that we’re in,’’ Walters said.
‘‘It’s hard to understand unless you’ve been around it and around these kids. The bond that they have and the commitment they made, I knew we were going to be a good football team.’’
The Rams were 3-6 last season and 2-7 in 2016. The turnaround has been special, and Walters credited it to the leaders who anchor the group. There are 32 seniors on the team.
‘‘I hear a lot more people saying, ‘Are you going to the football game?’ ’’ quarterback Bret Bushka said. ‘‘More people take pride in Glenbard East football. They have something to look forward to now.’’
Bushka is one of six captains. He’s averaging more than 200 yards passing and has thrown 26 touchdown passes with only three interceptions.
The Rams will face a massive challenge against East St. Louis, by far their biggest of the season. The Flyers have won eight state championships, most recently in 2016.
East St. Louis is the No. 15 seed, but it will be a heavy favorite in Lombard. The Flyers played three national powerhouses this season and haven’t lost to an in-state opponent.
‘‘We all know that they obviously have some good athletes on their side, they’re a little bit bigger than us, but this is our test,’’ linebacker Anthony Shockey said. ‘‘We get past this, and I’m very confident we can go to state.’’