It all comes down to this: 7 seniors playing in final game

EDGERTON — Seven seniors will play their last high school football game for Edgerton/Ellsworth when the Flying Dutchmen take the field in the state title game versus Wheaton/Herman-Norcross at 10 a.m. Friday at the Metrodome.

Omar Lopez, Casey Schilling, Justin Bolluyt, Tony Anderson, Wade Gunnink, Johnny Acevedo and Johnny Menning couldn’t have asked for a better stage to take their final bow.

“It’s crazy to think that it’s going to be over,” Schilling said. “It means we have to play as hard as we can, knowing this will be our last time we go up and down the field together.

“You can’t find a better way to end it. It’s awesome to know that we’re doing something this school has never done.”

It’s like déjà vu for high school coaches when it comes to saying goodbye to seniors. Almost every season it happens and every season it’s tough.

“We know this is it,” E/E coach Andrew Fleischman said. “We know this is the last time we’re going to be together with this group.

“It’s exciting, but it’s a little sad. We have a great group of seniors, who are great kids and great teammates. We are going to miss them a lot.”

Fleischman will miss each of his seniors.

“Menning and Schilling get a lot of the publicity, but Gunnink is a defensive player that makes our offense better every day, “Fleischman said. “Bolluyt, Acevedo and Anderson are guys that make our team better every day, even though they aren’t necessarily the stars you read about. Lopez has been a huge part of our success on defense.

“We’re going to miss every single one of them.”

Gunnink has already lived his favorite moment playing high school football, but one more couldn’t hurt.

“I’m happy with just getting to play in the Metrodome, but I’d like to go out and win it, too,” Gunnink said.

As for aspects of playing football, there are some things being a senior football player that can never be re-lived.

“I’m going to miss beating up little freshmen,” Gunnink said. “I’ll miss knocking them around.”

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