Not much is written about or even known about the 70 lbs. program. The program is only in its 2^nd year and most of the boys have never even put on football pads before. This year the program was able to field two teams of about 20 boys per team. The teams consisted of 2^nd and 3^rd grade boys who were under the age of 9 and weighed, with pads, under 79 lbs. Glen Ellyn  fielded  a Green team and a White team. The Green team finished the season 7-1 and only allowed 12 points scored against them all year. The White team finished 8-0, beating Wheaton in over time, to preserve a perfect season.

This article is about the perfect season. Having mowed through the likes of Lombard, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, and S. Elgin, the stage was set for the battle of the unbeaten. Wheaton 7-0 v. The Eagles 7-0. On an early Saturday morning, in the driving rain, the boys were given a chance to play on the upper field at Newton and they did not disappoint the crowd. The 1^st half was a battle of the defenses with neither side giving up a score and it looked like that’s how the half would end. But with under three minutes left in the half, Wheaton started to move.  After a couple of long runs, Wheaton was first and goal at the Eagle two yd. line. But the “D” line caused a fumble and Scott Andrews fell on it. So, with 1:58 left in the half the Eagle “O” went to work.  After some nice runs by John Duvic, Matt Marconi, Parker Hayes, and Drew Vogg the Eagles were at mid field with under a minute to play and only two time outs left. Now the famous Eagle passing attack could be unleashed. Vogg completes two passes to Hayes and the last time out is called with under 10 seconds left in the half.  What play could be called that would have to score a TD and that would work in a rain storm. A fake pass right, pass left was called. So, with time for one last play and the ball at the Wheaton 12 yd. line the ball was snapped. Vogg drops back, and with great protection from the line, he pumps right then looks left and fires a perfect spiral to Duvic, who makes the catch in the end zone. The half ends with the Eagles up 7-0. As the second half began the rain became more intense and once again it became a battle of the defenses. The Eagle “O” was able to control the ball for the last seven minutes of the 3^rd quarter and the first four minutes of the 4^th quarter. This was due to the great blocking of the offensive line. The holes were provided by Scott Andrews, Grant Brady, Anthony Corrado, Sean Dedmond, Jared Lentz, John O’Brien, Mac Quaid, William Reedy, Samuel Davis, Dillon Bong, Ben Wagner, and Austin Warden. The holes were so big that one of the running backs said they could have ridden their bike through.  So, feeling confident the game was in hand, the Eagles started the celebrating. What could be better, Wheaton had the ball at their own 20 yd. line, under four minutes to play, and it was 4^th down and three yards for the 1^st. The next play would shock the Eagle “D”. The defense was very proud of the fact that they had not given up TD all year and had only given up three 1^st downs to opponents all year. A lot of this success had to do with  boys like Tristan Brewer, Mateo Chavez, and Mac Thompson. But one play can make or break a season and Wheaton pulled it off. On a 4^th and three the Wheaton qb rolled around end and wasn’t brought down until he ran out of gas at the Eagle 10 yd. line, one play later Wheaton scored and the scored was tied.  The Eagles were stunned but stayed focused enough to force overtime. In overtime each team is given four downs from the 10yd. line to score. The Eagles had the first chance. Running right was the game plan of Coach Vogg all day and it worked. After running right off tackle  on the first two plays the ball was setting at the 5yd., so Coach Vogg  calls on Matt Marconi to run a counter play to the left. With perfect blocking Marconi walks into the end zone for the score but the extra point is missed so the score is now Eagles 13 Wheaton 7. Wheaton now has four plays to score and get the extra point to win the game. The “D” line stops Wheaton for no gain on the 1^st play. Drew Vogg crashes through the line for a two yd. loss on the 2^nd play, after a motion penalty its 3^rd down 17 for a Wheaton TD. A qb run around end for 12 yds. sets up the final play.  Now the rain is coming down in buckets and its 4^th down and five yds. for a Wheaton score. Stop the next play and the Eagles are the champs. Wheaton calls on their quarterback to roll around left end again, but the same side of the “D” line that had given up the TD earlier would not let it happen again. As the qb rolled out he was met by the entire right side of the “D” . Led by middle line backer Hayes with linemen Warden, Reedy, and Brewer the run is stuffed .Game Over Eagles win. That’s the story of the “perfect season”. Many thanks to all the boys, their parents, and the entire coaching staffs of both the 70 lbs. teams.

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