The rivalry resumes - Hutch v G-SL

Make sure to grab a roster as you walk into Glencoe’s Stevens Seminary Field Friday — you’re going to need it with all the new names and numbers from both squads.

Hutchinson only returns six starters from a season ago. Glencoe-Silver Lake has four starters back on offense and five on defense. That fact alone should make for a competitive game.

While the Tigers will miss the senior leadership of Brian Renkes, Brian Albrecht and many others, the Panthers lost three-year starting quarterback Matt Muenchow, star running back Dusty Jurek, all-state linebacker Steve Slater as well as split ends Chad Pierson and Tiger-killer Hunter Dunbar.

Still, the Panthers have some solid pieces to defend back-to-back Class AAA titles.

G-SL returns two-year starting linebacker Tyler Lang, who could play fullback as well, defensive back Cole Ranzau, defensive end Sam Sanken and junior linebacker Ryan Style, who sealed the championship win over DeLaSalle with an interception last November.

“They have a good couple of quarterbacks that can run and throw it, but when you lose guys like Muenchow and our guy Renkes, you just can’t replace them. You just don’t. You hope kids can fill in and help your team to be as successful or more,” Tigers coach Andy Rostberg said.

The Panthers also have back three starting lineman in Josh Noga, Justin Nowak and Tyler LaMott as well as halfback Josh Kraby.

One thing is certain, when Hutchinson and Glencoe-Silver Lake get together, it is guaranteed to be a treat to the thousands of fans in the stands.

Game time is 7 p.m.

For more on the game, see Thursday's print edition on newsstands right now. Or visit the sports blog at hutchinsonleader.com.

Eric Kraushar is the sports editor at the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sports@hutchinsonleader.com