Vander Luitgaren was under center in leading the Bulldogs to the Class 7A state championship game last year. The junior quarterback appears even more comfortable in his second playoff run.
“He practiced a lot with us throughout last season,” Anderson said. “All of a sudden, in game, you started to see ‘Playoff Mike’ with all the plays he can make and the plays he can extend. We saw it last season. I was really excited to have him for a full season as our QB1.”
Darin Ashiru made four catches for 42 yards and two touchdowns, while Brett Berggren grabbed three catches for 83 yards and a touchdown. Henry Hahn also ran for 99 yards and two touchdowns, and Preston Brummel added a rushing touchdown.
Michael Nee tried to keep Glenbard East (9-2) going in the second half. He completed 25 of 35 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns. Malachi Miller made 11 catches for 76 yards and a touchdown.
“It got cleaned up without sacrificing what makes him special,” Anderson said. “It’s one of those things where he creates so much, so you don’t want to take that away from him. We don’t want to rein him in because that’s when he’s also got those big plays. We kind of just let him go at times.”
Anderson admitted they ran drills on throwing the ball away in practice earlier in the season.
“One week I was throwing into blank ground,” Vander Luitgaren said. “It was kind of interesting, but it definitely helped. Every week, I think I’ve gotten better at getting the ball to my guys. That’s what I need to keep improving on because, if I get the ball in their hands, they’re going to make a play.
“When you can throw to eight different guys in the first half, that changes the whole perspective of the game,” he added. “It’s easy when our guys are all talented enough to make an explosive play.”
Another aspect of “Playoff Mike” is his unflappable nature in big games. It’s a trait that rubs off on the rest of the team.
“If it’s a negative play or the offense stalls out, he’s going to keep everything nice and calm,” Anderson said. “Our guys aren’t going to overreact because he doesn’t overreact.”
It’s something that Ashiru noticed over the summer when he joined the program.
“During the offseason, he worked his butt off bringing the guys along,” Ashiru said. “He’s a guy who never gets too high, never gets too low. He knows exactly where his guys are. He’s a commanding quarterback. It’s easy for us knowing that he’s going to come out here and command the offense.”
Vander Luitgaren will now get ready for the eighth postseason game of his young career. He’s going to lean on the things that have led him to a 6-1 playoff record thus far.
“The biggest thing about these playoff runs we’re making is our game plans and how we’re preparing during the week,” Vander Luitgaren said. “Everybody knows what they’re doing. Hopefully, we can keep that up.”
*Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.*
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/08/michael-vander-luitgaren-batavia-glenbard-east-ihsa-football/
