Penn football has always been an important part of the Heyvaert family.
And now, football is about to link father and son in another way.
When Dylan, a senior defensive end for Penn, plays in the state title game on Saturday, it'll surely bring back a lot of memories for his dad, Mike, an offensive lineman on Penn's first state title team in 1983.
"It was just a wonderful experience,” Mike recalls. “At the time, it went by so fast, I look back on it and it was phenomenal, it was awesome. You could not have asked for more support. From the fans, from everybody. Our sideline, you couldn't hear yourself think, it was so loud. It was so amazing. I'm hoping to see that on Saturday."
"It's almost like, 'dad, I've heard this one a million times, you can be quiet,'” Dylan jokes. “But now, I'm going to be able to tell those same exact stories to my kids. Now I'm realizing the pride that he has. Years ago, I never understood that. But now that I'm actually getting ready to play for a state championship, I understand why he's telling me all this stuff."
Neither Dylan nor Mike has shaved this whole month, just as Mike's team did in '83.
"I hadn't grown facial hair in years,” Mike said. “My younger ones have never seen me with any facial hair, so I thought we'd try it again. It still grows."
Dylan says he used to put on his dad's championship ring all the time when he was growing up.
Now he's got the chance to get his own.
"This is a good year,” Mike said. “It's a real good year. This is a very, very good team. We're going south and coming back with a victory."
Just like dad did.
