Sandburg vs. Stagg: Here, There, Anywhere

When District 230 rivals Sandburg and Stagg square off for the sixth straight season Friday at 7:15 p.m., something will be odd.

The location.

Sandburg is supposed to be the home team, but the game is being played at Andrew High School in Tinley Park because the Thunderbolts have the only District 230 school whose field is ready with the new field turf.

"We haven't given the location of our game any attention," Stagg coach Brian Buglio said. "We are focused on getting better as a football team, being prepared for Friday night and competing at a high level."

The location actually could be a home-field advantage of sorts for Sandburg, which defeated Andrew 23-16 on that same field in last Friday's season opener.

"We had a routine there, and we are familiar with the setting," Sandburg coach Dave Wierzal said. "Still, once the ball is kicked, the field is the same and everyone is in the moment.

"That field is excellent and those field turfs are wonderful."

Wierzal hopes the Eagles will be able to practice on their own field next week, and everything should be a go for the home opener to be played on Sept. 17 against Joliet West.

Because of construction delays, Stagg's field turf won't be ready for a few more weeks. The Chargers are scheduled to play their first home game on Oct. 1, against Thornton, and will host Bradley in the regular-season finale on Oct. 22.

But what the Chargers have to do now is figure out how to tighten up their defense. In an opening 36-12 loss at T.F. North last Friday, Stagg surrendered 362 yards, including 185 yards to Meteors running back Devonte Stevenson.

That doesn't bode well for Friday night's meeting with Sandburg. The Eagles have a very good running back in senior Jermell Harris , who had 13 carries for 114 yards in the win over Andrew. Quarterback Cody Miller was a dual threat by completing 7 of 12 passes for 96 yards and adding 22 carries for 100 yards, including two touchdown runs. Senior wide receiver Lawrence Oliver is another major threat for the Eagles.

The Chargers offense never got on track in the opener, finishing with 108 yards. Quarterback Hamza Salameh was held to 22 yards passing and threw a pair of picks. Running back Drake Estrada had 14 carries for 54 yards and Matt Klimasz added a 6-yard scoring run.

Last season, Stagg won four of its last five games to finish 4-5. The Chargers don't want to get off to an 0-4 start again, and Buglio believes everyone must step forward for his team to get going.

"Our program and team philosophy is that we focus on the importance of everyone, and not just a number of guys," he said. "Of course, certain individuals are going to step forward and make a difference in the game at some point or another. But, as we see it, ultimately there are 65 other guys that have helped in one way or another to get him to that point.

"We need to count on every single player on our team to be as good, strong and successful as we can be. That's who we are going to count on for Friday night —everyone."

Both teams have very good kickers. Stagg's Tony Angelos had a pair of field goals in the opener, including a 49-yarder. Eagles senior Taylor Zalewski also had a field goal in Week One and is being heavily recruited.

After having a six-year stretch with only one winning season and two playoff berths, the Eagles have gone 6-4 and 7-4 the past two years and made the playoffs both times. After an emotional Week One win, they have to be ready for another district rival.

"It's definitely a big rivalry," Wierzal said. "But it's tough to get the kids to play at that intensity level for two weeks. We don't want to come out flat in this game, and ultimately we have to play at the best level every chance we get."

Even though they didn't get the start they wanted, the Chargers need only to look at some history to know they can turn it around.

In 2002, Stagg got waxed in their opener to T.F. South by a score of 46-30. All the Chargers did that season was rebound to go 10-3, including winning eight straight before a heartbreaking 14-7 loss at Edwardsville in the Class 7A semifinals.

Then in 2005, the rivalry between Sandburg and Stagg was renewed as the schools hooked up for the first time in 11 years. It produced a thriller as the Chargers used a late polecat play to come away with a 26-25 victory. That helped propel them to a 5-0 start, a 9-2 record and their most recent playoff appearance.

But it's been all Sandburg ever since. The Eagles have won the past four meetings by a combined score of 132-23, including 30-0 last year.

Sandburg holds a 17-6 advantage in the all-time series and has won 15 of the last 18 meetings between the two.

"I think that there is always a natural motivational component to games against schools that are in your area or district that have history," Buglio said. "I think that you are always trying to motivate you players, and we will do things to motivate them throughout the week. I think more importantly, we need to guide our players for the peaks and valleys of the game.

"We need to be prepared for those moments and fight through them. Like we tell our kids, when the whistle blows to start the game and the ball is kicked, the game is the same. We still have to do all of the fundamental things that the game requires us to do in order to be successful at the end of the night."