We did not open the doors at Naperville North until 1970, and did not field a varsity football team until 1976. That team, made up of juniors only, lost the cross-town classic 26-0 but quickly established a tradition for this fierce rivalry that is today 31 games old.

In those early days, it was a struggle to win football games. Wheaton North was the conference powerhouse and had won numerous state championships. Until the playoff format changed in 1984, the only path to the state football playoffs was to become the conference champion.

Doug Chapman and Bob Funston were our early coaches who had to fight an uphill battle in trying to establish a winning program with teams the like of Naperville Central and Wheaton North in our conference.

We finally made our first playoff appearance in 1986. After beating Marshall High School for our first playoff victory, we were defeated for the second time that season by Wheaton North who went on to win the 5A state title. Although we were eliminated, we were certain that we turned the corner and would be a very good football program for the next few years.

Unfortunately we would be losing an outstanding player in Dave Gulley who was our captain and free safety. He was a one-man wrecking crew from his safety position and went on to play at Ellsworth Junior College and Northern Illinois University. What a great player!

In 1987 we broke through the Wheaton North and Naperville Central barriers by defeating both of them during an 11-2 season. We lost to Hersey High School in the semifinals on a last second touchdown by Duke Tobin but began a run of 10-plus-win seasons that would last for the next 10 years and lead us to the IHSA playoffs fourteen out of the next 15 years.

We have had many outstanding football players and families who have contributed the growth of our program. Kevin and Dave Garnett, who went on to star at Stanford and play professionally for the Minnesota Vikings, Brian and Scott Kavanagh, Todd and Ryan Furstenau, Jay and Justin McCareins from Northern Illinois and currently with the Tennessee Titans, the Jurjovec brothers, the Rossi's, and many others.

We have been blessed to have so many great players who have gone on to play in the college and professional ranks that there is just not enough space to pay them all their due credit.

A great deal of our success stems from our excellent junior high football programs and our Naperville youth football league. Currently, there are more than 2,500 players and cheerleaders involved with youth football in Naperville along with many fathers and mothers who volunteer to coach and become team moms. NYFL President Doug Fumagalli and Vice President Bob Napolitano create a vital link between the youth programs and the high schools and the youth league program is growing larger every year.

Administrative support for academics, as well as athletics, has been the focus of our superintendents, principals, and the board of education for many years. We all believe that a well-rounded individual becomes a greater contributor in society.

Neil McCauley, our athletic director, has exhibited tremendous leadership for our coaches and athletes. He has supported each and every sport as if they were the most important in our school and has been the foundation on which our athletic programs were built.

Finally we have been extremely fortunate to have outstanding coaches as part of our football staff. Tom Vargos, Paul Ryan, and Tim Ried have been with me for 19 years. Sean Drendel and Carl Hunckler are two great former players. Former coaches Stan Gruszka and Jerry Diesron, who both recently retired, had more than 30 years of commitment to coaching in the Naperville community. Currently we have some young coaches who are fine teachers and possess a tremendous thirst for the game.

The city of Naperville has embraced its football teams by showing unwavering support for the youth in our community. The cross-town classic is an example of the many special qualities that exist in Naperville.