Tigers and Falcons hit the field Aug. 11 for the first practice of varsity football season.

Last year's state champions, Wheaton Warrenville South High School is readying for a season that will have them defending their title at every turn. But varsity football head coach Ron Muhitch feels the work his players have accomplished throughout the summer has prepared the team well.

"We had a very, very good summer camp so our outlook is pretty positive coming out of that," said Muhitch, his eyes rarely leaving the field as he surveyed players running drills.

"I think we're playing in one of the most interesting brackets of the division this year," he continued, citing state championship runner-up Glenbard West and schools like Lake Zurich High School and East St. Louis High School as stiff competition. "We're going to have five or six teams that are going to be about equal on paper."

Several players are returning to Wheaton Warrenville South this year, including quarterback Reilly O'Toole and running back Mathew Rogers, both of whom are very seasoned in their positions, Muhitch said.

The school's record last year was 13-1. The Tigers' only loss was to Maine South — the two will meet again in Wheaton Warrenville South's second game of the season.

Similarly varsity football head coach Joe Wardynski is feeling pretty confident about Wheaton North High School's upcoming season.

"We've got four on each side of the ball coming back this year," Wardynski said. "We're going to try to get six wins. The last two years, we had five wins in the regular season. If we get to six wins, we'll reset our goals."

Wardynski sees the team's strengths in its receiving core — receiver Richard Finley is returning this year after being named an all-DuPage Valley Conference player last season.

The team's vulnerability lies in the running back. Wardynski said he doesn't have any proven players in the position, but he said the athlete to fill that spot will get a hand from quarterback Reece Butler. Butler played the last eight games of last season after player Taylor Graham was injured.

"Reece (Butler) is going to have to help whoever ends up in the running back spot through the first few games because whoever it'll be, it'll be a brand-new kid," Wardynski said. "We're going to count on (Butler) to be a leader this year, no doubt."

The team's record last season was 7-5.