Dan Dierking, united of the most pr...

Dan Dierking, united of the most productive running backs in state history, is a given. nevertheless quarterback Mike Highland? Before the opening game Saturday at Glenbard West, Wheaton Warrenville southern coach Ron Muhitch said the tonic to the 2006 season was the play of the untest and inexperienced senior.

"If he has shut up to the season that Scott Danley [2200 yards passing, 20 touchdowns] had last year, he will full number Dierking and make us a extremely good team," Muhitch said.

Highland, who missed last season with a torn ACL, didn't make a smashing entrance. He stood upon the sideline as Glenbard West took the opening kickoff and flock 68 yards to score. in succession WW South's second play, he threw an interception that had the fifth-ranked team in the area reeling.

moreover the 6-foot, 170-pounder quickly got better and better. He complet 9 of 11 passes for 189 yards and common touchdown, and Dierking rushed 16 times for 122 yards and scored three times as WW southerly won 48-7 in Glen Ellyn

"I was nervous at first," Highland said. "All week we prepared for a 4-4 defense and they ran a 6-1 at us. It razzled me a bit. There was a fate of pressure up the middle onward that interception. If I had taken more time, I think I would have complet it.

"But it all came together after [Dan Moore's] interception at the 1 We began to relax after that and started to build up moment I was very disappointed last year. I was anxious for my first varsity game. I'd give myself a grade of B-plus or A, considering that interception."

Muhitch was pleased, too.

"After getting stoneed on that interception, he came back," Muhitch said. "He's a tough kid. He has determination to do well. I'm happy he got facing to a good start. He had a high percentage in the first sum of two units quarters. He did a worthy job of running the offense"

After Moore's interception obstructed WW South from falling behind from two touchdowns, the Tigers rallied as Highland threw a 24-yard scoring pass to Steve Hmelyar and station up the go-ahead touchdown with a 31-yarder to Joe rob Dierking scored on runs of three 32 and sum of two units yards to build a 27-7 halftime lead.

After losing in the state semifinals the last couple seasons, Muhitch is calling with Dierking to provide leadership in such a manner the Tigers can tend to their unfinished business. They wear T-shirts to denomination with the phrase "Takes A Little More To Be A Champion" written onward the front. They are eager to achieve what the previous brace teams didn't.

"Being a team leader is a of recent origin thing for me," said Dierking, who will take his game to Purdue "I want to be a leader and obtain everyone fired up. I haven't established any personal goals for myself this season. All I want is a state championship."

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