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Sandwich Indians at Plano Reapers

By Bill Lidinsky

Game Time: 7:30 p.m. Friday September 1 at Reaper Stadium

Radio: Live on WSPY 107.1 FM

Records: Sandwich 0-1; Plano 1-0

Last Meeting: Plano 40 Sandwich 7 (2006).

Sandwich Players To Watch: Junior quarterback Jordan Beckwith and senior end John Hutchison who hooked up on a 62 yard touchdown pass in last weeks 23-6 loss to Coal City. Junior linebacker Brad Podschweit who transferred from Marquette and registered two sacks in the loss to the Coalers.

Plano Players To Watch: Senior quarterback Brian Green who threw two touchdown passes in week one’s 27-0 opening game victory at Lisle. Senior linebacker Randy Niles registered eight tackles and also returned a fumble for a touchdown versus the Lions last week.

The annual ‘War on 34’ takes in somewhat of a family feel despite the intense rivalry. Plano head coach Jim Green and quarterback son Brian will wear the purple, black, and white for the Reapers, while Sandwich assistant coach Chris Green (Jim’s brother) and tight end son C.J. (Brian’s cousin) will sport the orange, black, and white for the Indians. All quaintness aside, don’t think for one minute that this will be some ‘tea party’ despite the closeness of the Green family.

“We’ll have a couple of Greens on both sides of the field come Friday night. I know my mom’s not looking forward to this one because she doesn’t want to see either of her grandsons go against one another,” Jim Green said.

“But it’s just one of those things that if one of them has to smack the other, they’ll do it to help their team and then help each other up. It will be fun with Chris and I coaching on opposing sides and the two boys playing, then shaking hands after the game.”

Plano’s Green has never lost to Sandwich and owns a 4-0 head coaching record against the Indians dating back to the 2003 season. Conversely, Sandwich head man Derek Avery is winless against the Reapers with an 0-3 mark over the past three seasons.

“Jimmy’s undefeated against us as a head coach and I’m winless against them. It sure would be nice to reverse the trend this year,” Avery said. “Obviously it will take a real good effort from us against the defending state champs, but our kids have had a good week of practice so far bouncing back well after the loss to Coal City last Saturday. I know we’ll be ready for what should be a great ballgame between two great rivals.”

Plano has won 26 of their last 27 games dating back two seasons along with their last 15 in a row. But the Reapers lost a lot of players to graduation and are thin in numbers for 2007 with eight to nine athletes starting on both sides of the ball. Sandwich does not have one starter that plays both ways.

“Hopefully we can wear Plano down a little bit by having fresher guys on the field. They play a lot of kids both ways,” Avery said. “But those kids all have state championship rings on their fingers, so they’re all tough. They don’t remember what it’s like to lose a game. We’ll give it our best shot to break their streak.”

Meanwhile, Grandma Green has a tough decision as to what side of Reaper Stadium to sit on come Friday night.

“I’m sure it’s exciting for her and the rest of the Green family as is this game for both our communities. We’re trying to figure out what side she’s going to sit on. Probably on Plano’s because Brian’s a senior. She’ll come back to our side next year,” Avery said. “The Green’s on Sandwich are ready to go as are the rest of us.”

“Grandma Green will definitely be on the Plano side this season. Besides she hates the color orange,” Jim Green said. “All kidding aside, it should be a great night of football on route 34 Friday night.”

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