The Glenbard West Hitters suffered a hard-fought 36-35 road loss against perennial powerhouse St. Rita in a thrilling back-and-forth battle. Playing shorthanded on defense, the Hitters traded blows with the Mustangs all afternoon, highlighted by a stunning 99-yard drive capped by AJ Rayford's 83-yard touchdown run. Amari "Ace" Harris carried the offensive load with a dominant four-touchdown performance, including a bruising fourth-down score that gave Glenbard West a late 35-28 lead. St. Rita answered with a decisive touchdown and a successful two-point conversion in the final minutes to edge out the victory. Despite the heartbreaking result, a battle-tested 1-1 non-conference start will undoubtedly serve the Hitters well as they heal up and head into conference play.