KC Preps Football 2014

KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW SECTION

TOUCHDOWN 2014 THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014 | KCCHRONICLE.COM

LET’S MAKE SOME MEMORIES

Current, former players relive most powerful moments of their high school careers I

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Special connection QB/receiver chemistry can make all the difference / 3

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Thursday, August 28, 2014

| TOUCHDOWN 2014

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Wild games, incredible memories made As enthused as we all are to see the 2014 football season take shape, the joy of victory and anguish of defeat are fleeting. The memories are what lasts.

In the middle of this year’s prep football preview section, you’ll find former area players from different schools and eras recalling the most powerful memories of their high school football careers. The theme extends to the team preview pages for each area school as a current player reflects on his favorite high school football memory to date, with an eye on making new ones beginning Friday. I couldn’t resist joining in. Here are 10 of the most memorable high school football games I’ve covered in person since starting at the Chronicle in 2006:

1. Batavia-Geneva state semifinal, 2006

Talk about being spoiled in Year 1 on the job.

I’ve never been to a Super Bowl or a BCS bowl game, but after witnessing this one, I’m not sure that I need to.

The atmosphere was absolutely crackling at Burgess Field, although the game itself was a trouncing in Batavia’s favor as the Bulldogs played their way in to the 6A state championship game against Normal by shutting down the Vikings, 28-0.

2. Batavia’s Class 6A state title victory, 2013

While the 2006 state final ended in disappointment for Batavia, there was nothing anticlimactic about what happened last November.

The Bulldogs delivered an allaround performance worthy of the state’s grandest stage, avenging their lone loss of the season in a 34-14 throttling of Richards at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb.

From a core coaching staff that stuck together for decades to classy leaders such as Micah Coffey, Anthony Scaccia and Michael Moffatt, it was a group that deserved every bit of the adulation – and legacy – that comes with a state championship.

3. Batavia-Huntley playoff shootout, 2008

From a pure entertainment value, it doesn’t get much better than this one, a 70-63 Huntley victory over Batavia in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs.

In a lot of ways, the score speaks for itself. Both teams’ offenses shredded the defenses, series after series, quarter after quarter. I haven’t seen anything remotely like it, especially in a playoff game.

The defensive woes grew so extreme that Batavia resorted to second half onside kicks, figuring its chances of stopping the Red Raiders were so minimal. But Huntley struck for the

winning TD with 40 seconds to go, and an A+ performance by Batavia’s offense wasn’t enough for it to advance.

dicament when Rochelle visited preturf Burgess Field in October 2009 as awful field conditions and Rochelle’s slippery Wing-T attack created mass confusion.

The final score was just as confounding: Rochelle 21, Geneva 14, as the Vikings’ 24-game regular season winning streak ended.

4. Geneva-East St. Louis 7A state championship game, 2008

8. Batavia-Boylan freezing state semi, 2013

PREP ZONE Jay Schwab

As if playing in a state championship game isn’t special enough, Geneva had the chance to do so against a program with the mystique of East St. Louis.

The Vikings had a heck of a team and acquitted themselves well, but they were a few elite athletes short against the Flyers, who pulled away late for a 33-14 victory.

5. Kaneland wins wild one over Morris, 2011

Kaneland visited Northern Illinois Big 12 East rival Morris in the final game of the regular season, and the atmosphere was befitting two teams trying to close out unbeaten regular seasons and win the conference.

The Knights led, 31-14, with 7:39 to play in the fourth quarter before the Redskins – employing the unconventional lonesome polecat formation late in the game – struck back quickly to come within 31-28. It took a Jake Razo interception in the closing seconds for the Knights to turn back Morris’ frantic comeback bid.

6. Batavia storms back to beat Niles Notre Dame, 2011 playoffs

A halftime visit to the restroom resulted in overhearing a conversation between two teenagers, one seemingly a Batavia High student and the other a friend or family member who was in town visiting.

Needless to say, I wasn’t rolling tape, but the visitor said something to the effect of “I thought Batavia was supposed to be so good. They [stink].”

The undefeated Bulldogs weren’t so hot in the first half (down 28-7 at halftime) of the first-round matchup, but if the visitor stuck it out, he was singing a different tune by the time he headed to the parking lot. The Bulldogs rallied for a 35-28 win, as future Division I tight end Cole Gardner delivered a signature performance during the comeback. “He’s a monster,” coach Dennis Piron said admiringly.

7. Rochelle mucks up Geneva’s streak, 2009

Among sportswriters’ gravest nightmares, an inability to decipher players’ jersey numbers while attempting to keep stats rates pretty high.

That was the anxiety-inducing pre-

There are two types of high school football reporters: those who prefer being on the field and others who seek out the press box. I’m a field guy, but the 20-some degree weather in Rockford for the Class 6A state semifinal between Batavia and host Rockford Boylan last year sent me scurrying for the relative creature comforts of the box.

After all, feeling in one’s fingers is important when taking notes. Much to Batavia’s credit, the frigid air didn’t seem to dominate the Bulldogs’ thoughts as much as it did mine; Batavia’s focus remained airtight as the Bulldogs rocked the previously unbeaten Titans, 38-6.

9. Last-second call saves Kaneland in 2011 playoffs

The Kaneland faithful watched in stunned disbelief as visiting St. Francis uncorked a 40-yard touchdown pass in the closing seconds of the teams’ 5A playoff game to swing the outcome in the Spartans’ favor.

Then came the flag. An illegal participation penalty wiped out Nick Donati’s touchdown pass, and Kaneland survived a ferocious St. Francis rally to advance.

Former Spartans coach Greg Purnell could have taken it a lot worse.

“They said [Jeff Rutkowski] stepped out of bounds,” he said. “We were watching it right down the sideline and it looked like he got forced out of bounds. It’s a judgment call and you’ve got to go with it. The big thing is you can’t get down 31-7 at the half.

That’s the whole thing.”

10. North’s win blocked, 2011

They can’t all be Hollywood endings.

St. Charles North regained possession with the lead and less than a minute to go against Plainfield Central in Week 2 of the 2011 season.

But the North Stars were unable to run out the clock and, on the game’s final play, Plainfield Central blocked North’s punt, recovered it in the end zone and dealt the North Stars a mind-numbing, 26-21 defeat.

• Jay Schwab is sports editor of the Kane County Chronicle. He can be reached at 630-845-5382 or jschwab@shawmedia.com.

KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE 2014 PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Shaw Media file photo

The Kaneland football team cheers after the Knights scored the winning touchdown during their 2010 Class 5A second round game against Vernon Hills in Vernon Hills.

COVER STORY: NEVER FORGET Area football alumni share their favorite football memories. PAGES 14-15

GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE Local coaches not afraid to make the tough calls and the right plays. PAGE 16

LINE ’EM UP Keep track of the local players this season with our roster pages. PAGES 25-27

MORE ONLINE For the latest Friday night football scores for area teams this season, follow us on Twitter at @KaneCountyPreps.

TEAM PREVIEWS Scouting reports on all 11 local teams.

BATAVIA...............................9 KANELAND..........................10 GENEVA..............................11 ST. CHARLES EAST..............12 ST. CHARLES NORTH...........13 MARMION..........................17 AURORA C. CATHOLIC.........18 AURORA CHRISTIAN...........19 BURLINGTON CENTRAL........20 ST. FRANCIS.......................21 WHEATON ACADEMY..........22

Timing, chemistry make the difference for passing combos

By JAY SCHWAB jschwab@shawmedia.com

G

Pace Temple

Daniel Santacaterina

By the numbers

2,266 yards

27 touchdowns • Stats for Geneva quarterback Daniel Santacaterina in 2013

799 receiving yards

9 touchdowns Sandy Bressner –sbressner@shawmedia.com

St. Charles North quarterback Nathan Didier looks for a receiver during the first day of practice Aug. 11 at the school in St. Charles.

Santacaterina and Temple, longtime teammates and best friends.

St. Charles East senior receiver Morgan Flanigan will be working with a new QB this season after Jimmy Mitchell’s graduation. Flanigan said he and senior Kyle Cook made progress as the offseason unfolded, but the speedy wideout acknowledged learning on the fly will be tricky.

“Early in the summer and early into season I would say that, because really going into the season, you haven’t necessarily played with each other in game situations or scrimmage situations, so that timing is very hard, actually, because you don’t know how fast it’s going to come out, and for the quarterbacks … each receivers have different tendencies,” Flanigan said.

East coach Bryce Farquhar

said it becomes apparent which quarterbacks and receivers have forged a connection that can withstand the adversity of game night.

“When that trust goes away, that quarterback’s less likely to throw to that receiver,” Farquhar said. “It’s just a rapport built through the years, through summer and fall. Once I’m a quarterback and I trust that receiver’s going to be in that spot, I’m more comfortable throwing to him.”

It can take a compulsive streak to reach that point.

New St. Francis coach Mike Fitzgerald said the most accomplished passing combinations he’s been around were relentless in troubleshooting mixups.

“I was at Marist the last six years, and we had guys that had 104 receptions, 91 receptions, and I think the special ones are the ones who stayed

after practice to do some extra stuff, work on their timing or if there was something in practice that just didn’t feel right, they bring [teammates] back out and then go above and beyond,” Fitzgerald said.

Santacaterina, a Northern Illinois recruit, and Temple, also receiving D-I recruiting attention, think they’re ready for a blockbuster season, building off their junior years during which Santacaterina threw for 2,266 yards and 27 touchdowns and Temple notched 799 receiving yards with nine TDs. By now, much of their in-game communication is virtually undetectable.

“I’ll just look at him and he’ll look at me and we know just based on what the coverage is, we’re like ‘Oh, man, this is wide open,’ ” Santacaterina said. “We know exactly what we’re going to do and it’s

• Stats for Geneva receiver Pace Temple in 2013 going to be a big play, and we didn’t even have to give any signal or anything, we just know. That just comes with a lot of practice, a lot of throws to each other from me to him.

It’s really helpful for me and I’m sure it’s really helpful to him that we have that chemistry.”

Both know their responsibilities on a given play well enough that if something goes wrong, it’s likely because of an unforeseen wrinkle thrown at them by the defense. Even then, they often have the answer.

“If you’re out there and running a curl that’s usually 12 yards, but all the sudden the [defense] has changed – you can cut it down,” Temple said. “It’s so hard to put it into words, but to be out there on the field, you just kind of do it.

It’s just kind of natural, and you have to adjust with the flow of the game.”

• Thursday, August 28, 2014

eneva quarterback Daniel Santacaterina and receiver Pace Temple enjoy plenty of smooth connections that showcase crisp route-running and airtight timing.

Yet it’s the plays when all heck breaks loose that Temple said best demonstrates the pair’s quarterback/receiver chemistry. Temple takes pride in the senior tandem’s knack for resuscitating busted plays by reading each other’s minds on the fly.

“We will do drills with that but really you see somebody scrambling around, really you just have to come off your route and find green grass,” Temple said. “Honestly, in a game situation, the drills and everything are going to help but you have to be able to just go out there and make a play and feel it and understand ‘OK, our initial plan didn’t work, that’s OK, good job by the defense,’ but alright, now let’s go make something happen.”

Santacaterina and Temple enter the season as the area’s most decorated passing/receiving combination with all the coveted qualities – a long history of refining the rhythm of their routes together so plays unfold just right, and an unflappable response when, despite those efforts, improvisation is needed.

The starting point for virtually any great QB/receiver pairing is logging extra hours together outside of practice.

Temple said he and Santacaterina “got in trouble a couple times” for hopping the fence at Burgess Field during the offseason to hone their timing, but wherever they set up shop – often with defensive teammates and other receivers joining in – they worked through the route tree, running plays on both sides of the field, aiming to complete their sessions without the ball hitting the ground.

But not all QBs and receivers have the luxury of the extensive history shared by

TOUCHDOWN 2014 | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

‘IT’S KIND OF NATURAL’

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Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Thursday, August 28, 2014

| FIVE TO WATCH

LEGACY TIME: WITH HIS COLLEGE DECISION MADE AND PLENTY OF STATS PILED UP, THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOTBALL RECRUIT AIMS TO END HIS TIME AT GENEVA REVIVING THE PROGRAM’S TRADITION OF PLAYOFF SUCCESS.

Photo by Sandy Bressner – sbressner@shawmedia.com

DANIEL SANTACATERINA, GENEVA, SENIOR, QUARTERBACK

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FIVE TO WATCH | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Thursday, August 28, 2014

GAME-BREAKER: WITH A SPRINTER’S SPEED AND A BASKETBALL PLAYER’S UPS, TEMPLE IS A SERIOUS THREAT TO SCORE ANY TIME THE BALL SAILS HIS DIRECTION.

PACE TEMPLE, GENEVA, SENIOR, WIDE RECEIVER/SAFETY

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Photo by Sandy Bressner - sbressner@shawmedia.com

Photo by Sandy Bressner – sbressner@shawmedia.com

NOAH FRAZIER, BATAVIA, SENIOR, D-LINEMAN/FULLBACK

| FIVE TO WATCH

BRANCHING OUT: FRAZIER ALREADY IS KNOWN AS ONE OF THE AREA’S MOST FEARED PASS-RUSHERS, AND WITH BALL-CARRYING PRIVILEGES ADDED TO HIS PLATE, HIS TWO-WAY IMPACT WILL BE AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH.

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Thursday, August 28, 2014

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FIVE TO WATCH | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Thursday, August 28, 2014

BUILDING BLOCK: THE FLORIDA ATLANTIC FOOTBALL RECRUIT AND HIS BUDDIES UP FRONT INTEND TO ENSURE A COMFORTABLE TRANSITION FOR BULLDOGS’ NEW CROP OF SKILL PLAYERS.

JACK BRESHEARS, BATAVIA, SENIOR, OFFENSIVE LINEMAN

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Photo by Sandy Bressner – sbressner@shawmedia.com

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Thursday, August 28, 2014

| FIVE TO WATCH

IN PURSUIT: AFTER A SEASON OF CLOSE CALLS DOGGING NORTH, THIS MENACING LINEBACKER HAS NO INTENTION OF ALLOWING BALL-CARRIERS – OR THE PLAYOFFS – TO SLIP FROM HIS GRASP.

Photo by Sandy Bressner – sbressner@shawmedia.com

CARSON SCHMITT, ST. CHARLES NORTH, SENIOR, LINEBACKER

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2-Minute Drill

senior offensive lineman

The glory days could well continue. Batavia brings a proven pass rush, imposing offensive line and plenty of team speed to its Class 6A title defense.

Defensively, Noah Frazier and Josh Leonhard intend to continue wreaking havoc at the line of scrimmage while fellow returnees such as linebacker Jake Hlava and safety Nick Bernabei also seek to build off quality junior years. Bernabei looks to take over leadership in the secondary.

“I have to talk to my corners, talk to the linebackers, be more of the vocal communicator on defense,” Bernabei said.

Linebacker Joey Gross and cornerback Eddie Golden project to take on much larger roles defensively as seniors.

Offensively, the Bulldogs have a strong foundation up front with returning starters Jack Breshears (Florida Atlantic recruit), Mitch Krusz (coming off late-season ACL injury) and Patrick Gamble.

“We’re very solid up front,” Batavia coach Dennis Piron said. “That gives yourself the chance to maybe make a little mistake here or there. Our pass protection has been so good against a really good pass rush in camp.”

Which quarterback benefits from that line remains to be seen as lefty Evan Acosta and Kyle Niemiec each earned extended looks.

“I think week in and week out there’s going

Sandy Bressner – sbressner@shawmedia.com

Batavia’s Kyle Niemiec greets a teammate during their first day of practice at the school.

to be a competition at that position because both of those kids have worked so hard and done such a nice job in practice and in camp,” Piron said. “There might be a clear leader on Friday nights, who knows, but as of right now we’re comfortable with either one of those young men leading our team.”

Piron projects the latest Coffey boy to ascend through the program – junior receiver Canaan Coffey – to be “a breakout player in the league this year.” Elsewhere, Piron’s son, Peyton, seeks to build off his track season momentum, while Jonathan

Shubert, Cole Stokke and Nick Stuttle all are challenging for time in a receiving corps hit hard by graduation.

Speedy senior running back Blake Crowder saw much of his action with the game well in hand last year but will need to help Batavia set the tone in the aftermath of Anthony Scaccia’s graduation, while junior Zach Garrett also figures into the running back rotation along with power backs Hlava and Frazier.

– Jay Schwab jschwab@shawmedia.com

2014 schedule

Sept. 26 vs. St. Charles North* 7:30 p.m.

Marquee matchup: Oct. 17 vs.

Oct. 3 at West Chicago* 7:30 p.m. Geneva.

Oct. 10 at Elgin* 7:30 p.m.

Batavia has owned the UEC River Aug. 29 vs. Oswego 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 17 vs.

Geneva* 7:30 p.m. during Piron’s three seasons at the Sept. 5 at Glenbard North 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 24 vs. Streamwood* 7:30 p.m. helm.

Sept. 12 vs. Larkin* 7:30 p.m. *Upstate Eight River game The Bulldogs wrestled local Sept. 19 at St. Charles East* 7:30 p.m.

supremacy from Geneva, and this year’s meeting could be the most competitive between the archrivals in quite some time, with a potential conference four-peat likely in the balance.

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• Thursday, August 28, 2014

Coach: Dennis Piron (34-3, fourth season) 2013 record: 13-1 overall, 6-0 UEC River. Won IHSA Class 6A state championship.

Fast fact: Senior offensive linemen Jacob Halters (jersey No. 57) and Justin Halters (No. 58) are identical twins.

Special teams spotlight: Kicker Howie Morgano returns for Batavia and “his leg just looks fantastic,” according to Piron, while Canaan Coffey and Josh Leonhard “both can boom the ball” as punters.

Bottom line: Batavia again has more than its share of menacing presences defensively and an O-line that should allow the Bulldogs to thrive running the football. If the less established personnel in the passing game can punish defenses for swarming the line of scrimmage, it becomes another sky’s the limit season in B-Town.

Memory banked: “The Lake Forest game in the quarterfinals. It was just a classic, ground and pound, smashmouth Mitch Krusz football game, real close, came down to the wire.

It was awesome.” – Mitch Krusz,

9

BREAKDOWN

TOUCHDOWN 2014 | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

Batavia Bulldogs

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Thursday, August 28, 2014

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Kaneland Knights 2-Minute Drill Coach: Tom Fedderly (58-19, eighth season) 2013 record: 9-2 overall, 4-1 Northern Illinois Big 12 East. Lost to Joliet Catholic, 45-8, in second round of Class 5A playoffs.

Fast fact: Kaneland has scored at least 400 points each year since the Northern Illinois Big 12’s inception in 2010, topping out at 521 points in 2011.

Special teams spotlight: Placekicker Drew Franklin takes over the position after longtime stalwart Matt Rodriguez’s graduation. Quarterback Jake Marczuk also will punt.

Bottom line: New players have shuttled in and out each season during Fedderly’s remarkable run, but the graduation exodus was a little bigger this time around. Through it all, the spread scheme has remained robust on offense, leaving the Knights optimistic about another playoff trip.

Memory banked: “Last year when [2014 graduate] Jesse Balluff basically took me under his wing and made me the football player that I am. He was always there for me and gave me good advice and helped me to get better, always Isaac Swithers asking to go do extra workouts and stuff.” – Isaac Swithers, senior

running back, safety

BREAKDOWN Leave it to a household Kaneland football name to express optimism about the Knights’ flood of fresh faces.

“Everyone’s excited to see all the new players, because last year, obviously, a lot of guys graduated,” wide receiver Connor Fedderly said. “People want to see what this team’s going to be, and we’re excited to come out and play.”

Fedderly, the son of veteran coach Tom, is a waterboy turned ballboy turned senior leader in his third varsity season. The Knights will look for him to shine alongside classmate Isaac Swithers, a free safety and running back who took an increased role in the offensive backfield last season after injuries sidelined the since-graduated Jesse Balluff, one of several impact players to receive diplomas.

Tom Fedderly touts Swithers’ size, strength and aggressiveness along with his versatility.

It figures to come in handy as junior Jake Marczuk takes over for another longtime incumbent, Drew David, at quarter-

2014 schedule Aug. 29 at Brooks 7:15 p.m.

Sept. 5 vs. Marshall 7 p.m.

Sept. 12 vs. Rich Central 7:15 p.m.

Mary Beth Nolan for Shaw Media

Kaneland senior center Zack Thielk snaps the ball during practice at Kaneland High School in Maple Park.

back.

“Jake Marczuk is looking pretty good. … He’s had a pretty good summer, good 7-on-7s, and I like what I see with him,” Tom Fedderly said. “He’s a pretty good athlete at quarterback.

He’s going to be able to run and throw.”

Kaneland’s defense again blends size and speed, highlighted by brawny lineman Andrew Kray and linebacker Jake Gomes, who played as sophomores in 2013. At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Gomes brings plenty of physicality alongside senior Danny Hammermeister.

Although Fedderly is leery about having too many Knights join Swithers as two-way starters, Gomes and Hammermeister could also see offensive line duty. Senior center Zack Thielk anchors the front five.

– Kevin Druley kdruley@shawmedia.com

Sept. 19 at Yorkville* 7:15 p.m.

Sept. 26 vs. DeKalb *7:15 p.m.

Oct. 3 at Sycamore* 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 10 vs. Morris* 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 17 at La Salle-Peru 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 24 vs. Rochelle 7:15 p.m. *Northern Illinois Big 12 East Marquee matchup: Oct. 3 at Sycamore. This game always carries cachet given the schools’ history as

rivals. In 2014, there’s quite the wrinkle: The Spartans sullied the Knights’ 18-0 start in NI Big 12 East play last fall, becoming the first team not called Kaneland to win a league title.

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2014 schedule Aug. 29 at West Aurora 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 5 Richards 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 12 at Streamwood* 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 19 at St. Charles North* 7:30 p.m.

Sandy Bressner – sbressner@shawmedia.com

Geneva players run sprints during their first practice of the season at Good Templar Park in Geneva.

in the defensive backfield.

“Last year was my first time really playing DB,” Temple said.

“This year, I’m more excited about it. I’m ready. I’m not just going to have to do it. I want to.”

Temple’s best friend, senior quarterback and Northern Illinois recruit Daniel Santa-

caterina, wants the attack to be more balanced after relying heavily on the pass last fall. Junior offensive tackle Loudon Vollbrecht, a 6-foot7, 255-pounder who received an offer from Illinois in June, anchors the front five.

Fullback Max Woodworth flanks what coach Rob

Wicinski calls a “three-headed monster” at tailback – Liam Burns, Justin Nebel and Justin Taormina – as the Vikings bid to bolster the ground game.

“It’s a good vibe out here,” Santacaterina said. “I think we’ve got a good feeling.”

– Kevin Druley kdruley@shawmedia.com

Sept. 26 Elgin* 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 3 at St. Charles East* 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 10 West Chicago* 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 17 at Batavia* 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 24 Larkin* 7:30 p.m. *Upstate Eight River game

Marquee matchup: Oct. 17 at Batavia.

The traditional rivalry game nearly returns to its Week 9 roots, and likely will produce the UEC River winner. “In our eyes, obvi-

ously it goes through St. Charles and Batavia, but it really goes through Batavia,” Vikings coach Rob Wicinski said. “So nothing happens unless you go through red.”

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• Thursday, August 28, 2014

Coach: Rob Wicinski (97-61, 16th season) 2013 record: 7-3 overall, 5-1 Upstate Eight Conference River. Lost to St. Patrick, 31-23, in first round of Class 7A playoffs.

Fast fact: Wicinski needs three victories to reach 100 for his Geneva career. He came to the school in 1999 after a 3-24, three-season tenure at Niles North.

Special teams spotlight: Wicinski, a traditional risk-taker, suggested he’d again play punting by ear in 2014, basing his decision on field position and game situations.

Bottom line: Daniel Santacaterina to Pace Temple is one of the top quarterback-receiver connections in the region. If the defense can rebound from a trying recent stretch, those two superfriends should play pitch-and-catch into November.

Memory banked: “My favorite memory is just probably being with these guys, the team that we have this year. We have a lot of team unity. I’ve spent probably my entire Max time playing sports Woodworth my whole life, and I haven’t been as close to a team or a group of guys as these guys.” – Max

Nothing derails a defense like the sequence Geneva witnessed all too often in 2013.

“We stopped them for awhile,” senior linebacker Wyatt Shodeen said, “and then we’d just let up a big play.”

A return to the Class 7A playoffs after a one-year absence ultimately made 2013 a success, but a ‘D’ that surrendered 301 points in 10 games knows it must click if 2014 is to be any better.

Several veterans return to coordinator Frank Martin’s unit, beginning with defensive end Matt Loberg (senior) and defensive tackle Steven Kemp (junior). Coach Rob Wicinski moved senior Jack McCloughan from tight end to defensive end, and early reports are favorable.

In the secondary, Pace Temple experienced a conversion of sorts in 2013. The talented wide receiver doubled as a defensive back as the staff coveted his athleticism to help stop the bleeding. Temple again will play both ways as a senior, but acknowledges a greater comfort

TOUCHDOWN 2014 | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

Geneva Vikings

BREAKDOWN

St. Charles East Saints 2-Minute Drill Coach: Bryce Farquhar (first year) 2013 record: 6-4 overall, 4-2 UEC River. Lost, 35-7, to Stevenson in first round of 8A playoffs.

Fast fact: East will go head-to-head with former Saints coach Ted Monken, who is in his first year at West Chicago, in the regular season finale.

Special teams spotlight: Stronglegged junior Nick Candre, younger brother of former East linebacker Michael Candre, should be a force for East in the punting and kicking realm.

Bottom line: East’s offensive line gives the Saints a solid base, but the Saints still have less proven talent than the other Tri-Cities teams. The junior class is going to have to produce several impact contributors for the Saints to be playoff-caliber.

Memory banked: “Definitely the North game last year. I mean, we had a comeback score at the end, take it to overtime, and then going for that two-point conversion to tie it up, we had to go for it twice, and just listening to the coaches, how calm they were, Ramon Lopez and then going out there and actually doing it twice, it was crazy. And to watch Mitch Munroe of all people catch it, that was great. It’s one thing I’ll always remember.” – Ramon

Lopez, senior running back/safety

BREAKDOWN

New coach Bryce Farquhar’s first East team might be strongest up front, where the returning linemen trio of Brennan Bosch, Zachary Reyes and Jack Sharkey appear to be the Saints’ tone-setters.

Bosch, who figures to join his big brother – Michigan offensive lineman Kyle Bosch – in the college ranks soon, should be a force at left tackle.

“He’s definitely looking really good for us,” Farquhar said. “He’s played awesome so far. I can’t wait to get him out there and let him do his thing.”

Farquhar took a wait-and-see approach at the quarterback spot during the preseason but senior Kyle Cook impressed teammates during the summer. Junior Aiden Wright also merited an extended look.

Whoever is under center figures to identify speedy senior Morgan Flanigan as a preferred target, especially on deep routes.

“Mo’s done a great job of working with his hands and his routes,” Farquhar said.

“Really, if you tell Mo something, he’ll go out and do it. He’s got such a great work ethic as far as he’s very coachable. If you tell him it’s a weakness, he goes out and works on it.”

Two-way pillar Ramon Lopez again will factor in at running back and likely will share carries with junior Cam Canales, who also has the skill set to join Flanigan, senior Jake Asquini and junior Jack Russell in the receiving mix.

2014 schedule Aug. 29 vs. South Elgin 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 5 at Jacobs 7:15 p.m.

Sept. 12 at Elgin* 7:30 p.m.

Sandy Bressner – sbressner@shawmedia.com

St. Charles East’s Morgan Flanigan makes a catch during a recent practice at the school.

Lopez hopes to anchor the secondary at free safety, departing a linebacker corps now anchored by Parker Vidmich, Tommy Fink, Mitch Guillaume and Blake Saltsman. Nose tackle Blake Fialka is another defensive key.

While the Saints made the playoffs three of the five seasons under former coach Mike Fields – including last year – East has struggled against top competition in recent seasons, both locally and in the playoffs.

Sept. 19 vs. Batavia* 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 26 at Streamwood* (Memorial Stadium) 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 3 vs. Geneva* 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 10 vs. Larkin* 7:30 p.m.

“[The players] talked about just making it past that first round hump this year, and I think they’re capable of a lot more than that,” Farquhar said. “We have a great group of kids that I think are capable of a lot of things. It’s just executing and it’s how much work they put in and how willing they are to dedicate themselves to the program.”

– Jay Schwab jschwab@shawmedia.com

Oct. 17 at St. Charles North* 7:30 p.m. St. Charles North. Former East Oct. 24 at West Chicago* 7:30 p.m. coach Mike Fields went a perfect *Upstate Eight River game 5-0 against North, a tradition new coach Bryce Farquhar would love to continue.

Marquee matchup: Oct. 17 at

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Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Thursday, August 28, 2014

| TOUCHDOWN 2014

12

2-Minute Drill

Jordan Bergren, senior defensive end

St. Charles North missed the playoffs despite a 5-4 record last season, and two of those losses came in overtime.

Now in his second year, coach Rob Pomazak thinks offseason strides on both sides of the ball can help North pull out those tight games that proved costly a year ago.

North’s defense is led by senior linebacker Carson Schmitt and linebacker-turned-defensive end Jordan Bergren, whose versatility and intangibles impress Pomazak.

“His leadership, his smarts on the field are second to none,” Pomazak said.

Defensive linemen Jack Glavin and Dalton Young, senior safety Nick Zamecnik and junior cornerback Jake Chantos are among the other defensive players who impressed during the offseason.

Offensively, junior running back Dom Sidari will try to keep North’s running game – a strength last season – humming.

A retooled offensive line will include left tackle Ryan Turner and right tackle Sam Imbrogio,

2014 schedule Aug. 29 vs. Elk Grove* 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 5 at Plainfield Central 7 p.m.

Sept. 12 at West Chicago* 7:30 p.m.

Sandy Bressner – sbressner@shawmedia.com

St. Charles North linemen go toe-to-toe during the first day of practice at the school.

a sophomore who Pomazak considers a “tremendous prospect.”

North’s coaching staff targeted the passing game as an area in need of improvement this season and senior quarterback Nathan Didier and junior Kyle Novotney battled in the preseason for the chance to work with a deep receiving corps that will include Jayson Reckards,

Blake Kastein, Brendan Donlevy and John LeGare.

Tight end/outside linebacker Jack Callaghan figures to be among a handful of North Stars who will see action on both side of the ball, while Sidari will also make his presence felt as North’s kicker.

The midway point of the schedule will test North considerably.

Sept. 19 vs. Geneva* 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 26 at Batavia* 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 3 vs. Larkin* 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 10 at Streamwood* 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 17 vs. St. Charles East* 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 24 at Elgin* 7:30 p.m.

Pomazak’s former school, but the *Upstate Eight River game Grenadiers dealt North an OT loss to open last season, and North is Marquee matchup: Aug. 29 vs. itching to set a different tone for Elk Grove. Not only is Elk Grove 2014.

! n i n o e m o C

“I think Week 4 and Week 5 against Geneva and Batavia are going to be a tell-tale two weeks for us,” Pomazak said.

“I’d like to think we can go into Weeks 1, 2 and 3 and compete, and then Geneva and Batavia, you look at those two games and you have to circle them on your schedule.”

– Jay Schwab jschwab@shawmedia.com

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• Thursday, August 28, 2014

Coach: Rob Pomazak (second year) 2013 record: 5-4 overall, 3-3 UEC River.

Fast fact: Guard Brendan McCarthy is the only returning starter on the North Stars’ offensive line.

Special teams spotlight: Pomazak is going to give some of his athletic newcomers a shot to play a large role in the return game.

“We’ll be young, it’ll be juniors, so that first game’s important for us to get our feet wet and kind of get used to the speed,” Pomazak said.

Bottom line: If the North Stars can sustain longer drives this season, there is plenty of ability on defense to give the program a strong chance to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2009.

Memory banked: “I think it’d be last year, I forget who we were playing, but I was playing defensive line and I reached up and swatted a pass, and it bounced off the lineman’s helmet Jordan Bergren and bounced right into [Carson Schmitt’s] hands. It was just a great memory, watching him running down for a touchdown. It was just funny.” –

13

BREAKDOWN

TOUCHDOWN 2014 | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

St. Charles N. North Stars

BY JAY SCHWAB AND KEVIN DRULEY sportsdesk@kcchronicle.com

Editor’s note: We spoke with numerous football alumni from area schools in recent weeks, asking them to relive their most powerful high school footballrelated memories. Below are many of the goosebump-including responses: “That first home win of [2010]. That was our first home victory in [four] years.

That was big just for the program and the school and for fans to see that we were turning the program around. We had just got a new head coach, Brian Casey, and that was a good start. It got a lot of people going, a lot of people fired up. It’s good to see that the program’s doing well now. Being that stepping stone for setting things the way they should be.

They’ve gone to the playoffs the past two years, and it makes people proud to wear the blue and gold and to call themselves a Charger.”

– John Belovich, Aurora Central Catholic, Class of 2011, LB “Beating Vernon Hills my junior year [in a Class 5A state quarterfinal]. Being able to come from behind there in the last minute of the game, and then the onside kick that we recovered. That was pretty spectacular, honestly. … That was like the first most-amazing game that I’ve ever been a part of as a team member. … The locker room was still like a shock afterwards. People were still in awe. But that wasn’t the only game that we wanted to win, obviously. We wanted to win the game after that. … You can celebrate, but you can’t celebrate too long because you know your goal isn’t accomplished quite yet.”

– Quinn Buschbacher, Kaneland, Class of 2012, WR “I’m going to say, I’m assuming my senior year, when we clinched the conference outright against Geneva. It was a four overtime game. We went into it with high hopes that we just were going to crush them like we do every year, and

we ended up going into overtime 0-0 and Jake Pierce wound up blocking their field goal attempt at the end of the game.

We all stormed up the field, tore up their field. I have some fond memories of our yellow jerseys completely covered in brown from completely tearing up their field … definitely that whole year will really stick with me, but that game for sure.”

– Alvin Cole, Batavia, Class of 2004, Batavia, OL “I was one of the captains of the Marmion team in the [1998] season, and in the second round of the [4A] playoffs, we had to play Joliet Catholic and it was a night game at Joliet Memorial Stadium.

The place was packed, and I think we were the only ones in the entire state that thought we had any kind of chance of beating that team even though we were undefeated and we were the No. 1 seed. … Great game, great atmosphere, huge crowd, and we ended up driving the field and scoring a touchdown with 51 seconds left to beat Joliet Catholic, 13-7, that night.”

– Collin Dolan, Marmion, Class of 1999, OG/DT

“Two things come to mind. The first one is [not about] playing football, but walking up from school before the game even started, and walking through all the kids in uniform. I always remember that as a cool thing, the community all coming out … from Vietnam vets giving you high fives to little kids who could barely walk in diapers giving you a high five … and then, you know [former St. Charles coach Buck Drach] was a big-time disciplinarian. It was almost playoff time and we had to run because he thought we stole 72 salt and pepper shakers from Olive Garden, which was our pregame meal [restaurant]. It was the most insane running we ever had to do, and we never actually stole them.”

– Clayton Figi, St. Charles, Class of 1999, OL “I think the success that our team had

Photo courtesy of Alvin Cole

Batavia celebrates its 4-overtime win in 2003 over Geneva in Geneva.

[in 1998] we started the year 9-0, won the Upstate Eight Conference, and really won our first 11 games. We ended up being upset in the quarterfinals by Downers Grove North, but just the closeness of all the guys we played with. I got married a couple years ago and five of the guys I played with tended up standing up in my wedding. … I’m still probably very good friends with at least 20 of the guys I played on from the team that I graduated with.”

– Adam Freed, St. Charles, Class of 1999, WR

“I think one of the awesomest things, one of the greatest memories I have, is just how much the coaches actually believe in the players. … My junior year I was starting on the kick return, it was the first game of the season, and me and Alex Berg laugh about it now, but they kicked the ball off and I dropped it, and then I was so scared I couldn’t pick it up. I kept fumbling it, fumbling, and then I ended up falling on it on like the 1-yard line. Right after that, [assistant coach Bill Kettering] comes right up to me and says ‘Don’t worry about it, you’re going to go back out there, you’re still going to be on kick return.’ The next week, I end up returning a kick 97 yards for a touchdown opening up a half. The coaches never give up on you, and it’s nice, because as a kid you have a lot going on.”

– Bai Kabba, Batavia, Class of 2009, RB “What always comes to mind was my freshman year, they had brought me up for my last couple games. I was a [defensive back] at the time and the varsity level was short on numbers. ...

So they moved me up for Westmont and Riverside-Brookfield the last two games of the season. Young kid; I think I was 14 or 15 at the time. I wasn’t sure how comfortable the guys were with me. … Night of the game, we get in line to run on the field and everything, and I just remember me standing in the back of the line as a freshman. Kind of, ‘Oh man, what am I doing here, do I really belong?’ And I just remember Shawn McKeown, a junior at the time and a really good athlete, calling me up to tell me to stand next to him. I thought that was really cool at the time … and it showed some leadership to help the young kid feel comfortable.”

– Ryan Gierke, Kaneland, Class of 2005, DB/RB/WR “My senior year was the year we got to go to [the 7A state championship game against East St. Louis] and after winning the semifinal game [against Crystal Lake South] at home, the students charged on the field and came onto the field, and that was a pretty lasting memory from high school football that I’d probably have to say was my favorite.”

Shaw Media file photo

St. Charles, which was still one school before splitting into St. Charles East and St. Charles North, defeated Loyola, 35-20, in a Class 6A playoff game in 1998 in St. Charles. The Saints lost in the quarterfinals that year. made us stronger off the field.”

– Jordan Roberts, Aurora Christian, Class of 2009, QB Shaw Media file photo

Kaneland’s Daniel Helm (left) cheers as teammate Sean Carter (25) scores a touchdown during their 2010 Class 5A second round playoff game against Vernon Hills in Vernon Hills. on the town of St. Charles.”

– Matt Mautone, St. Charles North, Class of 2010, OL

Photo provided

Derek Swanson, a 1986 Geneva graduate, has many fond memories of his career as a Vikings running back.

– Sean Grady, Geneva, Class of 2009, DB “I remember before we got the lights … going out as a player and raising money and putting those things up so we could go out and play Friday night football. We used to play on Saturdays and we’d have a pretty good turnout a couple times a year. We weren’t very good. And then to get the lights and start playing on Friday nights and getting a homecoming win our senior year … our first homecoming win in 20 years, and seeing people storm the field and then beating Geneva for the first

time in 20 years that same season at that last game and having people storm the field … for me it’s very special as a player and then a coach, just following that whole process.”

– Matt Holm, Batavia, Class of 1987, LB “Definitely has to be my senior season in 2009, first time in school history of St. Charles North we made it past the first and second round in the playoffs. It was a tough loss against Glenbard West we had in the [Class 7A quarterfinals] but definitely awesome to leave a footprint

“The first thing that came to my head was having played Geneva, our rivals, two times in one season [in 2006]. That was kind of unheard of and we got to do it within four games. We played Geneva twice (including in a 6A state semifinal) and beat them overall, 52-6, so I’ll never forget that score. … I don’t know if calling out the rivalry is something nice to do after so long, but just a memorable experience of getting to play our hometown rival like that in such a short period of time for such meaningful games for both of us, it’s just something I’ll never forget.”

– Kevin McFarland, Batavia, Class of 2007, DL “I’d probably say my favorite moment was my sophomore year, myself and two of my good friends brought up on varsity sitting there in the weight room getting ready for the game, and I was just sitting with them kind of reminiscing before our first varsity home game about all the times we had been to the stadium, walking to the stadium and getting ready for the music to start, and finally it was our time to actually get out there and play,

Rob Winner file photo – rwinner@shawmedia.com

St. Francis’ Stan Bobowski (bottom) scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Spartans’ 2008 Class 5A state championship game at the University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium in Champaign. Bobowski finished the game with 125 rushing yards, and three touchdowns. St. Francis won the title, 49-35. so it was kind of a stark realization we were getting older but we also had an opportunity to play for our parents, play for ourselves play for our teammates. That was probably my best memory.”

– Mike Mullen, St. Charles East, Class of 2007, OL “If I could think back to one memory, it would be 2004, when we beat AshtonFranklin Center in the playoffs. The previous year, my junior year, we had lost to them, 22-0, in the second round of the playoffs at their field. And when the pairings came out the following year, we saw that if we won our first [playoff] game we would be heading back there. We were fortunate enough to win our first game.

… Not too many times in life you are fortunate enough to have a second opportunity, and our team felt like we were blessed with a second opportunity. We went out there and played the best game I’ve ever been a part of – or I should say the best game in our career at Aurora Christian – and we won, 34-0.”

– Nate Peterson, Aurora Christian, Class of 2005, QB “Oh, boy. Honestly, when I look back I think my favorite memories are definitely the big wins and definitely making the playoffs. But I think even moreso than that are the times off the field and during training camp and film study. … And then all the Bible study and relationships that

“Our [4A] playoff run my senior year, playing St. Viator and going up against Jarrett Payton, and I remember Walter Payton being there out at Marmion. One of the last games I know that Walter saw Jarrett play [before Walter Payton’s November 1999 death]. Our team was down about two touchdowns with three or four minutes left in the game, and we came back to beat them, [28-26].”

– Kyle Saltijeral, Marmion Class of 1999, QB “Of course, winning 28 straight games and two [3A] state titles [from 1997 to 1998]. It doesn’t get much better than that. Never losing a game your varsity high school career, that’s pretty special. … And then to see those guys in the community, to coach with some of them – [former Knights quarterback] Eric Delany, he’s one of my best friends – that makes it a neat thing, too.”

– Keith Snyder, Kaneland, Class of 1999, LG/DT “One of the most infamous that we had was our game down in Morris [in 1985].

We ended up pulling out a victory toward the end of the game on a flea flicker play to clinch the game and take it for good. It was a touch-and-go game and we had no success against Morris in our careers. …

Freshman [year] didn’t win, sophomore [year] didn’t win, junior [year] didn’t win.

We couldn’t beat Morris. Morris was our nemesis. They were the bad boys of the [Little Seven] Conference and the ones that we looked forward to.”

– Derek Swanson, Geneva Class of 1986, RB “Just the whole season I was able to be coached by my dad [Joe] and also play with my little brother [Boone] my senior year, that [2004] season. And also with some really great friends. If you want to pick out a specific moment, homecoming, we played Batavia High School. We were an underdog, for sure. We had, I think, 35 kids dressed and it seemed like they had 90. And we went out there and we won the homecoming game, and that was just fantastic. It was a great moment.

Everybody played well, and we had a big upset.”

– Mike Thorgesen, Kaneland, Class of 2005, OG/NG “It was my junior year, I think this has to be the highlight, when we won the one and only state championship that St. Francis has. My junior year in ‘08, [winning the state title], was kind of what we coined ‘The Year.’ That has to be the highlight, I mean the one and only state championship that has gone through [the football program].

Hopefully they do that again, that’d be awesome, but I think for me that has to be the highlight, and I think for a lot of my teammates as well.”

– Tony Vargyas, St. Francis, Class of 2010, RB/LB

15

• Thursday, August 28, 2014

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Thursday, August 28, 2014

MOMENTS IN TIME

Local football alumni recall their favorite high school football moments, on and off the field

TOUCHDOWN 2014 | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

| TOUCHDOWN 2014

14

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Thursday, August 28, 2014

| TOUCHDOWN 2014

16

COACHES CONFIDENT IN CALLS Area features seasoned, creative offensive minds

By KEVIN DRULEY kdruley@shawmedia.com

B

efore developing a reputation as one of the Chronicle area’s more highly functioning offensive football minds, Kaneland coach Tom Fedderly served as the Knights’ defensive coordinator.

“I’ve called plays on defense and offense, and you know, I enjoyed both,” Fedderly said. “But I put a lot of stuff in there that I hated when I was defensive coordinator.

Picking all the stuff that was hard to defend.”

Although the box scores don’t always reflect it, Fedderly and his counterparts encounter challenges just like everyone else. Topping the list: how to balance being an unpredictable play-caller with going with what works.

Taking what the defense gives you always serves as the starting point.

“You know, it all depends on what they want to do. We just feed off of them,” Geneva coach Rob Wicinski said. “We tell our guys all the time, ‘Be patient, be patient. Let us figure it out. We’re going to be fine.’ Because we can do a lot of different things. So just be patient and it’ll finally hit.”

Traditionally a run-first offensive coach since coming to Geneva in 1999, Wicinski adhered to one of football’s more passive principles last season – evaluating your personnel.

With best friends Daniel Santacaterina and Pace Temple plus the graduated Kyle Brown forming formidable quarterback-wide receiver combos, the Vikings relied on the pass more than usual.

Even better than the personnel itself was the added guessing that put upon opposing defensive coaches’ shoulders.

“I don’t really pass to move the chains; I pass to make it hurt. I run to move the chains,” Wicinski said. “So when I do pass, I like to look

Photos by Sandy Bressner – sbressner@shawmedia.com

ABOVE: Batavia offensive coordinator Mike Gaspari calls a play during their first day of practice Aug. 11 at the school in Batavia. BELOW LEFT: Geneva head coach Rob Wicinski has his players run sprints during the first official day of practice Aug. 11 at Good Templar Park in Geneva.

Monica Maschak – mmaschak@shawmedia.com

Kaneland coach Tom Fedderly presides over a Knights offense that is perennially one of the highest scoring in the area. long first. We were a big-strike offense last year. We scored points in bunches, and fast.”

Only Batavia outscored Geneva in the Upstate Eight Conference River Division last season, a feat that still would have held even if the Bulldogs hadn’t played four more games en route to winning the Class 6A state title.

The seamless relationship between coach Dennis Piron and offensive coordinator Mike Gaspari – Piron’s longtime predecessor – helped fuel

Batavia’s run to the crown and 593 points. Piron says “Mike’s never been a micromanager” since Piron took over in 2011, and vice-versa.

While the playbook is well in place by any given Friday night, there can be plenty of collaboration along the way.

Having a fluid group only helps strengthen schemes both on the field and in players’ minds.

“We’re always open-minded, even though you may battle for what you believe in,” Piron said. “But in the end,

I think what you get out of that is the best thing for your kids. And obviously, with the experience factor that we have in our staff, gives you a huge advantage when you have so many coaches who’ve been coaching together for such a long time, and so many people who clearly understand what it is that the goals are they’re setting out for their kids.”

Fedderly credits former Knights assistant Rich Kearney for showing him several defensive ins-and-outs from

the time Fedderly joined the program in 1993. Fedderly was a quarterback and strong safety during his playing days, but still needed to learn as much as he could to eventually become head coach.

Ultimately, gaining a broader view of football bolstered his ability to grasp one side.

“Being able to know the different weaknesses and stuff of defenses and where to attack people, that’s where it starts,” Fedderly said.

– Rusty Joyce, senior quarterback

2014 schedule

Sept. 19 at Providence 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 24 at Montini 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 26 vs. St. Francis de Sales 7:30 p.m.

• Chicago Catholic Green Oct. 3 vs. Fenwick 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 10 vs. De La Salle 7:30 p.m.

Marquee matchup: Sept. 19 at Oct. 17 at Aurora Christian 7 p.m.

Providence. On a schedule with

Marmion coach Dan Thorpe expects lots of fireworks this season – no matter who has the ball.

“I think we’re going to score a lot of points,” Thorpe said. “I think we’re going to give up a lot of points.”

At least initially, Marmion will have to do its share of the damage minus running backs/defensive backs Jordan Glasgow and Sean Campbell, projected starters who will miss the early stages of the season with injuries.

Fullback Lucas Warren should keep the chains moving for Marmion after a promising sophomore season in 2013.

“The beauty of the athletes that we have is we have an [interior] game with Lucas pounding the middle and we have a very nice offensive line with size and toughness, so we can be content to give the ball to Lucas 25 times and that’s going to be a lot of positive plays out of those 25 plays, but then people have to defend the flank,” said Thorpe, noting that Noel Abraham, Cole Bonebrake, Matt Fer-

Aug. 29 at Plainfield Central 7 p.m.

Sept. 5 Ottawa 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 12 at St. Francis 7:30 p.m.

a handful of high-end challenges, nothing will say “Welcome to the Chicago Catholic League” better than a trip to New Lenox to contend with the tradition-rich Celtics.

17

• Thursday, August 28, 2014

Coach: Dan Thorpe (55-37, 10th season) 2013 record: 8-3 overall, 5-2 Suburban Christian Conference Blue. Lost, 21-20, to Prairie Ridge in second round of 6A playoffs.

Fast fact: Hulking senior offensive tackle John Gauthier (6-6, 270) returns after missing his entire junior season with an ACL tear.

Special teams spotlight: Thorpe envisions a pair of sophomores – Connor Hoeft and Zach Fincher – competing as part of a kicking competition, while adding that Johnny Tate “has been just outstanding” handling punting duties.

Bottom line: If the Cadets can get and stay relatively healthy – a tall order for Marmion in recent seasons – the Cadets have the needed blend of brawn and skill to make the playoffs, though a difficult Chicago Catholic League schedule leaves little margin for error.

Memory banked: “Probably my first game freshman year against Batavia. I just remember coming out and dominating. I remember Jordan Glasgow with a huge run, a Rusty Joyce touchdown pass to Eric Bacorn in the back of the end zone and I just remember everybody being so hyped off of that game and it being a great win for us to start off the season.”

Rusty Joyce and junior Johnny Tate, a relative newcomer to the position.

Eric Bacorn projects as a goto target in the passing game.

“Eric Bacorn is catching everything,” Thorpe said. “I can’t think of him dropping a ball this summer.”

A relatively inexperienced defense concerns Thorpe, although Warren should be a strong contributor at linebacker, where he will be joined

by Jordan, Ferraro and Wade Gunderson.

Senior tackle Neil Peterson is one of the team’s most improved players, Thorpe said, and should excel on a defensive line that will also include Tim Clohecy and Division I prospect Luke Juriga, both of whom project to be two-way linemen.

In addition to bolstering Marmion’s running game, Glasgow figures to improve Shaw Media file photo the Cadets’ turnover ratio Marmion will have to withstand the early-season absence of injured when he returns. standout running back Jordan Glasgow.

“Every 7-on-7, he was getting two, three interceptions,” raro, Nate Traxler and Kyle ness to play two quarterbacks Thorpe said.

Jordan are part of a crowded in the same game, and he has – Jay Schwab mix at halfback. a pair of QBs tempting him to jschwab@shawmedia.com Thorpe has shown a willing- go that route in savvy senior

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2-Minute Drill

BREAKDOWN

TOUCHDOWN 2014 | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

Marmion Cadets

Aurora C. Catholic Chargers 2-Minute Drill Coach: Brian Casey (19-19, fifth season) 2013 record: 6-4, 4-3 Suburban Christian Gold. Lost to King, 36-6, in first round of 4A playoffs.

Fast fact: ACC has not made the playoffs in three or more consecutive seasons since the 1993 to 1997 teams accomplished the feat.

Special teams spotlight: Senior newcomer Brandon Babler will handle the punting duties along with playing running back and safety.

Bottom line: ACC carries a hardearned swagger into each game, but it’s important for players not to get ahead of themselves. Stay level-headed in the great unknown of a new conference, and a third straight playoff berth’s certainly doable.

Memory banked: “Probably last year, the game against Marmion.

Rivalry game. We won, 13-12. That was probably one of my best games on varsity.

Roman Padilla … It was a great experience and we were underdogs that game, so we came back from behind and we were able to figure out a way to win that game against a great Marmion team.” – Roman Padilla, senior

running back/safety

BREAKDOWN

Aurora Central Catholic ditched its dormancy after snapping a 16-year postseason drought in 2012.

Reaching the playoffs again last season rocketed energy levels to those not seen since the Clinton administration.

“Honestly, we’re trying to shoot for it all,” senior running back/safety Roman Padilla said. “That’s our goal every year. We fell short last year, but we’re trying to get up to the caliber where we’re able to be a state-winning team.”

ACC suffered its second successive first-round exit in 2013, scuffling against host King in a lopsided, Class 4A loss that continued the program’s recent woes in Chicago.

One reason the Chargers feel they’ve moved past that game is the resolve of oft-inspired coach Brian Casey. Another: the return of senior quarterback Matt Rahn, who suffered a season-ending knee injury during the 2013 preseason.

Junior Colin Baillie snagged about a third of ACC’s 25 receptions last season. Expect

Sean King for Shaw Media

Aurora Central Catholic football coach Brian Casey calls a play during practice Aug. 14 at Aurora Central Catholic High School in Aurora.

both totals to climb considerably.

“This is as balanced as we’ve ever been,” said Casey, entering his fifth season. “The goal is to force the defense to stretch the whole field. We’re trying to be as multiple and as balanced as we can be.”

And a little less two-platoon heavy. Casey hopes Padilla, line

2014 schedule

Sept. 26 vs. IC Catholic Prep* 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 29 vs. Wauwatosa East (Wis.) 7 p.m. Oct. 3 at Fenton* 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 10 vs. Glenbard South* 7:15 p.m.

Sept. 5 at Lisle 7:15 p.m.

Sept. 12 at Chicago Christian 7:15 p.m. Oct. 17 at Riverside-Brookfield* 7:15 p.m.

Sept. 19 vs. Guerin 7:30 p.m.

stalwart Jeff Kus and fellow senior Brandon Babler, a 6-foot-1 newcomer from the basketball program who’ll play cornerback and running back, are his lone heavy contributors to both sides of the ball.

Middle linebacker Ben Ariano, a returning first-team all-conference performer alongside Padilla, anchors a defense

that allowed no more than 21 points in a game last season until a Week 9 blowout loss to Montini.

With ACC shifting conferences to the Metro Suburban West, there are no worries about encountering the Broncos. That’s a boost in energy, too.

– Kevin Druley kdruley@shawmedia.com

Oct. 24 at Wheaton Academy* 7 p.m. last season’s Suburban Christian • Metro Suburban West Gold swan song, with IC prevailing by seven points.

Marquee matchup: Sept. 26 vs.

Both sides hope their rivalry IC Catholic Prep. The Chargers and survives a conference shift. They’ll Knights played a tight one during find out on Bob Stewart Field.

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| TOUCHDOWN 2014

18

2-MINUTE DRILL

– Austin Bray, senior quarterback

Bosek, will see time in the offensive backfield and in the slot.

“They’ve been doing great,” Bray said. “A lot of the guys who didn’t get a chance to play last year, they’re stepping up this year.”

Dave Beebe looks for a handful of two-way starters to emerge on both lines. Sophomore Sean Kuhn joins Smith and Minooka transfer Brock Whalen as sturdy, durable players up front. Linebacker and defensive back were all but open competitions in camp. A projected returning starter at linebacker, Trevor Hills, transferred to Glenbard North.

Dave Beebe figures his team will be tougher to handle down the stretch of the season, which includes four home games in the last five.

“If you ask me which I’d rather have, chemistry or Shaw Media file photo experience, I’ll take chemistry Aurora Christian quarterback Austin Bray drops back to pass against every time,” Dave Beebe said.

Marmion on July 8 during the Aurora Christian 7-on-7 Competition at “Experience will come, we’ll Aurora Christian High School in Aurora. get that. It’s just going to take group. Per the usual in the Beebe calls “a bundle of some time.”

Eagles’ offense, a few players, energy,” helps accelerate the – Kevin Druley kdruley@shawmedia.com including sophomore Zach growth of the running back

2014 schedule

2 p.m.

Sept. 19 at St. Ignatius* 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 26 vs. Bishop McNamara* 7 p.m.

Oct. 3 vs. St. Rita 7 p.m.

Oct. 10 at St. Laurence* 7:30 p.m.

First-year Aurora Christian coach Dave Beebe cuts to the chase about the 2014 Eagles.

“You’ve basically got a brand new coach in a brand new conference with a brand new team,” he said. “So, should be interesting.”

Aurora Christian transitions to the Chicago Catholic White with a longtime assistant at the helm of the program and former head coach Don Beebe nearby as offensive coordinator.

Having seasoning in those leadership positions could prove especially crucial in the early stages considering the return of only two consistent starters from last season.

Quarterback Austin Bray and offensive lineman Jake Smith helped the Eagles’ spread attack to another high-powered effort last season. Bray, for one, is optimistic about the new crop of talent flanking him, especially fellow senior Jacolby Maxwell, a wide receiver with strong hands and good route awareness.

St. Charles North transfer Nick Edlund, a senior Dave

Aug. 29 vs. Senn 7 p.m.

Sept. 5 at Urban Prep-Bronzeville, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 13 at Lake Forest Academy

Christian Conference Blue power Oct. 17 vs. Marmion 7 p.m. garners first bragging rights in Oct. 24 vs. Leo* 7 p.m. *Chicago Catholic White game this Chicago Catholic Conference crossover? The Eagles are part of Marquee matchup: Oct. 17 vs. the league’s White Division, while Marmion. Which former Suburban the Cadets play in the Green.

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19

• Thursday, August 28, 2014

Coach: Dave Beebe (first season) 2013 record: 9-4, 4-3 Suburban Christian Blue. Lost to Stillman Valley, 28-26 in Class 3A state semifinal.

Fast fact: Beebe’s brother, Don, who stepped down after last season, remains as offensive coordinator. Don Beebe went 97-26 in 10 seasons, winning a pair of Class 3A state titles.

Special teams spotlight: Senior Nick Van Gilse takes over at placekicker after Trevor Hills transferred to Glenbard North.

Bottom line: Considering all that’s new, the Eagles still could be in position to rally for a familiar postseason spot by holding serve at home in the final month-plus.

Memory banked: “Probably just being able to experience playing with the Aurora Christian football team. ...

[Coaches Dave Austin Bray and Don Beebe have] taught me a lot about life and my relationship with Christ. Having the opportunity to have the coaches and what they teach us, it’s helped me mature as a man.”

BREAKDOWN

TOUCHDOWN 2014 | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

Aurora Christian Eagles

Burlington Central Rockets 2-minute Drill Coach: Rich Crabel (16-11, fourth season) 2013 record: 4-5, 3-3 Big Northern East.

Fast fact: Central’s 2013 losses came by margins of 34, 40, four, 43 and one point.

The team’s four losses in 2012 came by no fewer than eight points.

Special teams spotlight: Field position won’t come easy for Central. “We don’t really have a big-time leg for a kicker or anything like that,” Crabel said.

Bottom line: The Rockets return talent at running back and linebacker, usually a recipe for success in a ground attack-intensive conference. Now it’s about harnessing a way to win the close ones.

Memory banked: “My sophomore year [on the sophomore team], it was late in the game and we were playing North Boone. I had a Ryan Anderson couple catches in that drive and it was in the last minute, and I had the go-ahead touchdown where we ended up winning the game.” – Ryan Anderson, senior

wide receiver/tight end

BREAKDOWN

Ideally, Burlington Central coach Rich Crabel envisions starting just one player both ways.

Ideally, Rockets fans will witness senior running back/ defensive back Trevor Davison burst from whatever backfield he’s situated in.

“He looks really good. He’s stronger. He’s more physical,” Crabel said. “He’s given our defense all kinds of problems. So I guess that’s good and bad.”

Central showed a penchant for playing close games in the middle of last season, pointing to close defeats to Harvard and Richmond-Burton as key blows in their bid for the program’s first playoff berth since 2011.

With most Big Northern East offenses predicated on the running game, BC counters with a promising antidote: a trio of speedy, experienced linebackers in seniors Cole Roach, Craig Kein and Anton Christensen. Roach and Kein are three-year starters, with Roach a returning all-conference selection.

Up front, Charlie Sanders heads the returnees among

2014 schedule Aug. 29 at Hampshire 7:15 p.m.

Sept. 5 at Dixon 7 p.m.

Sept. 12 vs. North Boone* 7 p.m.

TEXT ALERTS

Mary Beth Nolan for Shaw Media

Burlington Central junior defensive back Adam Skirmont takes a snap at quarterback during practice at Burlington Central High School in Burlington.

gave the early nod to junior Robert Doumont, who missed last season with a shoulder injury but played the position for the freshman team in 2012.

Classmate Adam Skirmont will serve as backup while starting as a defensive back.

Crabel and his staff “shortened the learning curve” for first-time senior participant

Brenden Bushy, a 6-foot5 receiver who has played other sports at the school.

The offensive line returns four starters – including seniors Joe Vitraelli, Matt Overstreet and Zach Garbacz – but several newcomers created a spirited camp competition.

– Kevin Druley kdruley@shawmedia.com

Oct. 24 at Rockford Christian* 7 p.m.

Sept. 19 at Harvard* 7 p.m. *Big Northern East game Sept. 26 vs. Genoa-Kingston* 5 p.m.

Oct. 3 at Marengo* 7 p.m.

Marquee matchup: Oct. 10 vs.

Oct. 10 vs. Richmond-Burton* 7 p.m. Richmond-Burton. The Rocket riOct. 17 vs. Johnsburg* 7 p.m. valry again went R-B’s way in 2013,

although BC took the perennial powers to overtime in a frustrating finish. A return to the postseason would feel all the better if Central marks this one with a “W.”

an always-bustling defensive line group, with BC rotating six to eight linemen each game.

Nimble defense back Johnny Frederickson, another senior, looks to spark the secondary.

Apart from Davison, who was part of last season’s running back rotation, much of the skill position players will be new. In the quarterback race, Crabel

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Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Thursday, August 28, 2014

| TOUCHDOWN 2014

20

2-Minute Drill

senior running back/defensive back

There is a new conference and a new coach this season at St. Francis, which welcomes former Marist assistant Mike Fitzgerald as Greg Purnell’s successor.

Fitzgerald pledges to bring more offensive balance to the traditionally ground gamegeared Spartans. Seniors Clint Bobowski and Nick Dama are competing at the quarterback spot, with an experienced receiving corps of Matt Hanson, Mike Shaw, Jack Ahern and Nate Zito ready to do their part.

“I think we’ve got a really deep group of receivers, a lot of skill at that position, and again, that fits well with what we want to do,” Fitzgerald said.

“We want to spread the field out and we want to be multiple.”

St. Francis, however, has no intention of abandoning its rushing attack, especially with versatile senior Steven Fassnacht available as a featured back. Fassnacht has a tough act to follow with Nevada recruit James Butler having

2014 schedule Aug. 29 at Menomonie, Wis. (at Madison Middleton) 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 5 vs. Plainfield South 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 12 vs. Marmion* 7:30 p.m.

Erica Benson – ebenson@shawmedia.com

St. Francis quarterback Clint Bobowski hands the ball off to Brian Marren during practice Aug. 15 in Wheaton.

graduated.

An offensive line anchored by returning center Cole Cunningham and guards John Vargyas and Michael Riley will block for Fassnacht.

Defensively, end Quinn Calcagno has been “very athletic, very disruptive all summer” while linebacker Zito,

safeties Shaw and Ahern and nose tackle Thomas Brundage are among the other potential difference-makers.

The Spartans will play several guys on both sides of the ball as they acclimate to Year 1 in the Chicago Catholic League.

“We’re trying to limit the offensive line going both ways,

Sept. 19 vs. Brother Rice 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 27 at Hales Franciscan 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 3 at St. Laurence 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 10 vs. Montini* 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 17 at De La Salle* 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 24 at Fenwick* (at Concordia

University) TBD maintaining a heated rivalry with *Chicago Catholic Green game fellow SCC transplant Marmion.

Both teams will be making their Marquee matchup: Sept. 12 vs. Chicago Catholic League debuts, with the Spartans hoping to cash Marmion. Despite switching conferences, there is some continuity in on the second of three straight in the Spartans’ schedule, including early-season home games.

the O-line, D-line, we’re trying to limit as much as possible, but the skill guys ... I feel really good with our depth where we can play those guys both ways, and if they need a blow, their backups are coming along and there’s a lot of competition,” Fitzgerald said.

– Jay Schwab jschwab@shawmedia.com

COLLEGE PREPARATORY

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR INTERESTED STUDENTS: September 12 – Junior High Night Football Game: • 5th through 8th grade students and their entire family will receive complimentary admission!

• In addition to the football team, you will find the following groups performing: Chamber Choir, Varsity Cheerleading, Varsity Dance, Sammy Spartan Mascot, and the Marching Spartan’s Band.

• Come out and have a wonderful Friday evening with your family and friends.

• 5th through 8th grade visitors will receive special door prizes and a half time field pass which will allow them to be escorted onto the field during half time! They will get to see the cheerleading, Dance, and Band performances from the field level. It will be an awesome night for everyone.

• Pre-registration is encouraged, call 630-668-5800 x1120 to make your reservations.

• 8th grade students interested in learning more about St. Francis High School are invited to schedule a full day on campus. They will be paired up with a current St. Francis student and experience the entire day.

• This is a fantastic way to evaluate high schools, as well as to get a great view of the high school experience.

• Free lunch in our Spartan Cafeteria is included.

• Reservations only. Call 630-668-5800 x1120 to reserve your date.

2130 W. Roosevelt Road, Wheaton, IL 60187 630-688-5800 x1120 www.sfhscollegeprep.org

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Shadow Days:

• Thursday, August 28, 2014

Coach: Mike Fitzgerald (first season) 2013 record: 5-5 overall, 3-4 Suburban Christian Conference blue. Lost, 47-28, to Glenbard South in first round of Class 5A playoffs.

Fast fact: Recent Northern Illinois football product Matt Battaglia, who played at Marist when Fitzgerald was an assistant coach there, is part of Fitzgerald’s new coaching staff as St. Francis’ offensive line coach.

Special teams spotlight: “I think a lot of it’s a feel thing, if you’ve got the momentum or you’re trying to get the momentum, but you’ve also got to play the field possession game,” Fitzgerald said in describing his philosophy on taking fourth-down gambles versus punting it away. “It’s definitely a major factor in football games so I think you’ve got to mix and match the times to be aggressive and the times to just turn the field with the kick.”

Bottom line: Playoff potential exists if the Spartans can keep their two-way guys healthy.

Memory banked: “Last year, first game [at home], we got to play on the new field, and that was really cool.

Playing on such a bad field before and then coming out here on the new turf with a bunch of fans was great.” – Steven Steven Fassnacht, Fassnacht

21

BREAKDOWN

TOUCHDOWN 2014 | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

St. Francis Spartans

Wheaton Academy Warriors 2-Minute Drill Coach: Brad Thornton (4-5 overall, second season) 2013 record: 4-5 overall, 3-4 Suburban Christian Gold.

Fast fact: Wheaton Academy has won nine games in its past three seasons after earning 11 victories from 2009 to 2010.

Special teams spotlight: Senior Dillon Oleson, who did not play football the past two seasons, has emerged alongside Camden Meade as an option at punt returner.

Bottom line: Wheaton Academy’s athleticism should allow it to stick around most games.

The key will be figuring out how to get the upper hand against the perennial powers in its new conference.

Memory banked: “My sophomore year, we were at Walther Lutheran and going into halftime we were down 26 points. It was, 52-26. I started on defense that Camden second half, and Meade they didn’t get a first down the rest of the game. We came back to win, 56-52.”

– Camden Meade, senior running

back/linebacker

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Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Thursday, August 28, 2014

| TOUCHDOWN 2014

22

BREAKDOWN

Let there be bedlam at Wheaton Academy, even before the season starts.

A new on-campus, artificial turf field bestows that kind of power while cutting many Warriors fans’ commutes considerably after past trips for “home” games at Wheaton College and West Chicago High.

“The word I would use is ‘pumped,’ ” Warriors senior running back/linebacker Camden Meade said. “A lot of the guys, we’re so excited. Even when it was being built, we’d go there and just stand on it and throw the football around.”

Opposing offenses and defenses will assemble there soon, and the Warriors feel confident about their ability against them as the team shifts to what figures to be a more competitive Metro Suburban West. Junior quarterback David Thrasher, who helped the team to a promising stretch run in 2013, returns with an abundance of what coach Brad Thornton calls “intangible moxie.”

“We’re really excited for him having a year under his belt. Very accurate, good arm

2014 schedule Aug. 29 at Walther Christian 7 p.m.

Sept. 5 at Noble St.-Bulls Academy 7 p.m.

Sept. 13 at Guerin 1 p.m.

Sandy Bressner – sbressner@shawmedia.com

Wheaton Academy players run a play during a recent practice on their field in West Chicago.

strength,” Thornton said. “Sizewise, he’s not the biggest, but in terms of his knowledge of the offense, he’s outstanding. He’s a very smart kid.”

In addition to Meade, a handful of other senior weapons will flank Thrasher, including tight end Marino Costello and wide receiver Sam Martinez.

Wheaton Academy graduated

much of its offensive line, but Thornton considers returners Josh Dutton, John Acosta and Evan Williams more than capable of paving the way. Williams started at defensive end last season, while Dutton and Acosta rotated into the front five.

“We have the guys to fill in there,” Thornton said. “They’ve just got to get some reps.”

The linebacking corps jolts the defense, with returning leading tackler Luis Ramos and fellow senior Scottie McLean primed for big seasons.

Players and coaches hope supporters are out in full throat.

“The turf is beautiful,” Thornton said. “It’s ready to rock.”

– Kevin Druley kdruley@shawmedia.com

Sept. 19 vs. Chicago Christian 7 p.m. Catholic* 7 p.m.

Sept. 27 vs. Riverside-Brookfield* 2 p.m. *Metro Suburban (West) Oct. 3 at Glenbard South* 7:15 p.m.

Marquee matchup: Oct. 24 Oct. 11 at IC Catholic Prep* 1 p.m. vs. Aurora Central Catholic. The Oct. 17 vs. Fenton* 7 p.m.

Warriors needed a Week 9 win Oct. 24 vs. Aurora Central

to become playoff-eligible last season, but succumbed to long odds against perennial contender Marian Central. Here, the Warriors host a rising power as their first season in a new league concludes.

23

LOOKING BACK: 2013 SEASON IN REVIEW

TOUCHDOWN 2014 | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

Aurora Central Catholic Aug. 30 Oostburg (Wis.) W, 1-0 (forfeit) Sept. 7 Bogan W, 42-7 Sept. 14 IC Catholic Prep L, 21-14 Sept. 20 Chicago Christian W, 38-6 Sept. 27 St. Edward L, 35-21 Oct. 5 Walther Christian W, 41-6 Oct. 12 Guerin W, 45-14 Oct. 18 Marmion W, 13-12 Oct. 25 Montini L, 47-0 Nov. 2 King L, 36-6

Aurora Christian

• Thursday, August 28, 2014

Aug. 30 DuSable W, 67-0 Sept. 7 Bronzeville W, 55-0 Sept. 14 Walther Christian W, 59-7 Sept. 20 Wheaton Academy W, 52-14 Sept. 27 St. Francis W, 24-14 Oct. 4 Marmion L, 35-14 Oct. 12 IC Catholic Prep L, 48-6 Oct. 19 Montini L, 49-0 Oct. 26 Guerin W, 48-7 Nov. 2 IC Catholic Prep W, 24-3 Nov. 9 Oregon W, 49-20 Nov. 16 Seneca W, 36-27 Nov. 23 Stillman Valley L, 28-26

Batavia Aug. 30 Glenbard North W, 29-26 Sept. 6 Richards L, 31-26 Sept. 13 Geneva W, 49-20 Sept. 21 Streamwood W. 56-14 Sept. 27 West Chicago W, 48-7 Oct. 5 Larkin W, 46-14 Oct. 11 St. Charles North W, 44-7 Oct. 18 St. Charles East W, 47-14 Oct. 25 Elgin W, 62-14 Nov. 1 DeKalb W, 48-6 Nov. 9 Rolling Meadows W, 48-13 Nov. 16 Lake Forest W, 19-14 Nov. 23 Rockford Boylan W, 38-6 Nov. 30 Richards W, 34-14

Burlington Central Aug. 30 Hampshire L, 41-7 Sept. 6 Stillman Valley L, 40-0 Sept. 13 Rockford Christian W, 34-0 Sept. 20 Harvard L, 17-13 Sept. 27 Genoa-Kingston L, 43-0 Oct. 4 Marengo W, 27-0 Oct. 11 Richmond-Burton L, 14-13 (OT) Oct. 18 Rock Falls W, 41-24 Oct. 25 North Boone W, 28-14

Geneva Aug. 30 Oswego W, 29-27 Sept. 6 Wheaton North L, 40-27 Sept. 13 Batavia L, 49-20

Erica Benson file photo – ebenson@shawmedia.com

Batavia’s Forrest Gilbertson and Ryan Minniti react to their Class 6A state championship against Richards on Nov. 26 at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. Batavia defeated Richards, 34-14.

Sept. 20 Larkin W, 41-34 Sept. 27 St. Charles North W, 35-28 Oct. 4 St. Charles East W, 35-21 Oct. 11 Elgin W, 42-20 Oct. 18 Metea Valley W, 49-45 Oct. 25 Streamwood W, 55-6 Nov. 1 St. Patrick L, 31-23

Kaneland Aug. 30 Brooks W, 27-7 Sept. 6 IC Catholic Prep W, 45-14 Sept. 13 Sterling W, 48-7 Sept. 20 Streator W, 42-0 Sept. 27 Rochelle W, 49-20 Oct. 4 DeKalb W, 35-12 Oct. 11 Yorkville W, 41-0 Oct. 18 Sycamore L, 31-21 Oct. 25 Morris W, 49-14 Nov. 1 Hampshire W, 35-0 Nov. 9 Joliet Catholic L, 45-8

Marmion Aug. 30 Plainfield Central W, 25-7 Sept. 6 Ottawa W, 45-0 Sept. 13 St. Edward W, 27-10 Sept. 20 Marian Central W, 28-10 Sept. 27 Montini L, 27-3 Oct. 4 Aurora Christian W, 35-14 Oct. 11 St. Francis W, 26-20 Oct. 18 Aurora Central Catholic L, 13-12 Oct. 26 Walther Christian W, 43-0 Nov. 1 Fenton W, 39-0 Nov. 9 Prairie Ridge L, 21-20

St. Charles East Aug. 31 South Elgin W, 35-27 Sept. 6 Jacobs W, 41-26 Sept. 13 St. Charles North W, 28-21 Sept. 20 Neuqua Valley L, 54-28

Sept. 27 Elgin W, 42-16 Oct. 4 Geneva L, 35-21 Oct. 11 Streamwood W, 42-27 Oct. 18 Batavia L, 47-14 Oct. 25 Larkin W, 55-12 Nov. 2 Stevenson L, 35-7

St. Charles North Aug. 30 Elk Grove L, 23-22 Sept. 6 Plainfield Central W, 48-0 Sept. 13 St. Charles East L, 28-21 Sept. 20 Elgin W, 49-0 Sept. 27 Geneva L, 35-28 Oct. 4 Streamwood W, 55-6 Oct. 11 Batavia L, 44-7 Oct. 18 Larkin W, 48-20 Oct. 26 South Elgin W, 27-25

St. Francis Aug. 30 Riverside-Brookfield W, 35-9

Sept. 6 Plainfield South W, 43-20 Sept. 13 Chicago Christian W, 49-0 Sept. 20 Montini L, 30-7 Sept. 27 Aurora Christian L, 24-14 Oct. 4 Marian Central L, 34-28 Oct. 11 Marmion L, 26-20 Oct. 18 Guerin W, 56-7 Oct. 25 St. Edward W, 50-8 Nov. 2 Glenbard South L, 47-28

Wheaton Academy Aug. 30 Westminster (Mo.) L, 44-0 Sept. 6 Chicago Bulls Academy W, 40-8 Sept. 13 Montini L, 56-0 Sept. 20 Aurora Christian L, 52-14 Sept. 28 Walther Christian W, 47-25 Oct. 5 Guerin W, 55-14 Oct. 11 St. Edward 60-21 Oct. 18 Chicago Christian W, 48-27 Oct. 25 Marian Central L, 63-20

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Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Thursday, August 28, 2014

| TOUCHDOWN 2014

24

THE BEST OF THE BEST.

Get the area’s best prep sports coverage in Kane County Chronicle and at KCChronicle.com/Preps.

Featuring local prep sports news and analysis from the area’s #1 local news leader.

Find us on Facebook for score updates and more at Facebook.com/KaneCountyPreps KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE. SERVING THE TRI-CITIES AND KANELAND SINCE 1881.

25

2014 PREP FOOTBALL ROSTERS 80 Luke Garrity Jr. TE/DE 6-3 195 81 Howie Morgano Sr. K/C 5-9 145 82 Johnny Fitch Jr. TE/LB 6-3 180 83 Micah Clements Sr. LB 5-11 170 85 Nick Stuttle Jr. WR/C 6-0 170 86 Chris Galena Jr. C 5-7 135 87 Brandon Nutley Sr. TE/DE 6-4 175 88 Glenn Albanese So. TE/DE 6-4 210 92 Jon Wall Sr. DT 6-0 220 93 Nate Kearney Sr. DE 6-1 180 97 Sean Conklin Sr. DT 6-0 265 Head coach: Dennis Piron

Pos. Ht. Wt. RB/DB 5-9 145 WR/DB 6-4 180 RB/DB 6-0 165 TE/DE 6-7 230 WR/LB 6-0 170 QB 5-10 145 QB/DB 6-0 165 K 5-8 145 WR/DB 5-11 160 RB/DB 5-10 160 WR/DB 5-10 160 RB/DB 5-11 150 RB/DB 6-0 200 WR/DB 6-0 185 RB/LB 5-10 175 RB/LB 5-8 160 OL/DL 6-1 195 K 6-2 170 WR/DB 5-8 140 RB/LB 5-9 165 TE/LB 6-4 190 RB/LB 5-11 170 RB/LB 5-11 180 RB/LB 5-11 215 OL/DL 6-5 240 OL/DL 5-10 200 OL/DL 5-11 215 OL/DL 5-8 220 OL/DL 6-1 265 OL/DL 5-11 200 OL/DL 5-11 220 OL/DL 5-10 190 OL/DL 6-2 215 OL/DL 6-2 330 OL/DL 5-8 230 OL/DL 6-1 265

BURLINGTON CENTRAL

TE/LB 6-1 185

AURORA CHRISTIAN

No. Name Brock Whalen Collin Treest Jacolby Maxwell Jeremiah Wright Levi Olson Nathan Dunsing Nick Edlund Nolan Czerwinski Steve Hall Zach Williams Ryan Burke Nick van Gilse Gerald Marraro Austin Bray Joe Betterman Ben Weerts Zach Bosek Jeremiah Wiggins Jake Richardson Jake Smith Matthew Ward Noah Vollmer Ross Krantz Sean Kuhn Dustin Barrett Erik Abrell Mario Folino Head coach: Dave Beebe

Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. Sr. T/DE 6-4 260 Sr. NG Sr. WR 5-9 152 Jr. C Fr. OLB 5-11 175 Sr. C Sr. RB/SS 5-7 170 Jr. MLB 5-8 Sr. C Jr. G/DE 6-2 225 So. R/OLB/CB 6-2 183 Sr. FS/K 6-0 155 Jr. OLB/SS 5-8 150 Sr. QB 6-3 214 Sr. T/DT 6-1 190 So. QB So. FB/OLB 5-9 180 Jr. RB/SS 5-11 170 Sr. WR/OLB 5-6 137 Sr. C/LS/MLB 5-11 239 Sr. T/DT 5-9 202 Jr. DE 5-11 162 Sr. G/DT 6-0 280 So. T/DE 6-3 225 Jr. TE 6-0 213 So. TE/OLB 6-1 180 Sr. RB 5-8 152

BATAVIA

No. Name 1 Josh Leonhard 2 Colin Thurston 3 Canaan Coffey 4 Kamontez Thomas 5 Jake Hlava 6 Miles Williams 7 Peyton Piron 8 Eddie Golden 11 Cole Stokke

Yr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr.

Pos. DE LB WR/CB RB LB/RB DL WR/CB WR/CB WR/DE

Ht. Wt. 6-2 220 6-2 195 6-2 175 5-6 135 6-2 218 5-8 194 6-1 150 6-1 160 6-4 175

Mary Beth Nolan for Shaw Media

Burlington Central’s Craig Kein works a running drill during practice at Burlington Central High School.

12 Evan Acosta Sr. QB 6-2 175 13 Nolan Adams Jr. CB 5-7 135 16 Greg Drake Jr. QB/DB 6-0 160 17 Luke Beckmann Jr. WR 6-3 165 18 Jonathan Shubert Sr. WR 6-2 175 19 Kyle Niemiec Jr. QB/SS 6-2 180 20 Tyler Holl Jr. SS 5-11 160 21 Nick Bernabei Sr. SS/RB 6-1 185 22 Ethan Hallberg Jr. RB 5-9 165 23 Brett Bowman Jr. RB/CB 5-11 165 24 David Sharp Sr. DB 5-10 160 25 Mitchell Knoth Jr. DB 5-10 160 26 Zack Majka Jr. SS 6-2 185 27 Chris Schmidt RB/CB 5-11 160 29 Willy Firth Sr. RB/LB 6-1 175 30 Blake Crowder Sr. RB 5-7 135 31 Sergio Espana Sr. CB 5-7 140 33 Zach Garrett Jr. RB 5-7 180 34 Jake Birkhaug Sr. LB 5-11 185 35 Joseph Gross Sr. RB/LB 6-1 190 37 Keaton Drees Sr. RB 5-8 155 38 Andrew Clark Sr. RB 5-8 175 39 Matt Fabian Sr. CB 5-8 155 42 Derek Nutley Jr. DL 5-11 170

44 Noah Frazier Sr. DE/RB 6-1 225 47 Garrett Hartmann Jr. LB 5-11 165 48 Johnny Robinson Sr. DL 6-3 205 50 Luke Swartzmiller Jr. DL 5-10 195 51 Sean Callahan Jr. LB 5-11 165 52 Johnny Lane Jr. LB 5-10 180 54 Brian Havlicek Sr. OL/DT 6-1 220 55 Will Mager Jr. OL/LB 5-11 165 57 Jacob Halters Sr. OG/DT 6-2 250 58 Justin Halters Sr. OG/DT 5-10 240 59 Zach Sims Jr. OT/DT 6-2 245 60 Mitch Davey Jr. OL/DL 6-2 230 61 Tristan Kennedy Jr. OL/DT 5-11 230 63 Giovanni Garcia Jr. OL 6-0 230 64 Mitchell Krusz Sr. OG/DT 6-1 270 66 Zachary Tate Sr. OT 6-2 245 67 Patrick Gamble Sr. C/DT 5-10 250 68 Anthony Popela Jr. OL 6-2 250 72 Brandon Parker Sr. OL 5-11 220 73 Matt Smith Jr. OL 5-10 185 75 Nick Salvati Jr. DT 6-1 300 77 Jack Breshears Sr. OT 6-5 285 78 Nick Birkenmaier Jr. DT 6-1 275 79 Ross Berggren So. OT/DT 6-4 265

No. Name Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. 2 Jason Berango Jr. RB/DB 5-8 175 3 Adam Mengel Jr. R/DB 5-8 145 4 Adam Skirmont Jr. QB/DB 5-9 175 5 Brenden Bushy Sr. R/DB 6-4 180 6 Mohammed Aburmishan Sr. R/DB 6-0 170 7 Jonathan Frederickson Sr. R/DB 5-8 145 8 Ian Kumlin Jr. R/DB 6-0 160 10 Robert Doubek Jr. QB/DB 5-11 180 11 Tim Goehrke Jr. R/DB 5-10 155 12 Hunter Winterstein Sr. R/DB 5-11 135 13 Anton Christensen Sr. RB/LB 6-0 205 14 Clint Herman Jr. R/DB 5-9 135 15 Ryan Anderson Sr. E/DB 6-2 190 16 Kolton Koester Jr. R/DB 5-9 135 17 Brandon Spinnato Jr. QB/DB 5-10 140 18 James Fay So. RB/DB 5-9 150 19 Cameron Kaldenberger So. QB/DB 5-11 174 20 TJ Titock Jr. RB/LB 5-10 180 22 Kyle Trumbower Sr. R/DB 6-10 165 23 Trevor Davison Sr. R/DB 5-8 175 24 Craig Kein Sr. RB/LB 6-1 205 25 David Streder Sr. R/LB 5-6 159 28 Bradley Sorensen Jr. RB/LB 6-1 205 33 Connor Mahoney Jr. E/DL 6-1 175 34 Zachary Gorman Sr. RB/DL 5-10 185 35 Joseph Landmeier Jr. RB/LB 5-11 175 43 Jacob Sanson Sr. RB/DB 5-0 152 44 Dan Le Sr. RB/LB 5-10 235 45 Cole Roach Sr. RB/LB 5-11 220 51 James Ankrom Jr. OL/DL 6-2 220 52 Brendan Dobson Jr. OL/DL 5-8 162 53 Esteban Escobar Jr. OL/DL 5-10 240 55 Branden Sorensen Sr. OL/DL 6-3 220 56 Matthew Overstreet Sr. OL/DL 5-11 235 57 Dekota Sciabaras Jr. OL/DL 5-9 145 59 Zachary Garbacz Sr. OL/DL 6-2 210 60 Joseph Vitraelli Sr. OL/DL 5-8 250 61 Joseph Garbacz So. OL/DL 5-9 210 62 Kyle Blankenburg Sr. OL/DL 5-5 195 63 Jackson Brummel Jr. OL/DL 6-2 212 66 Charles Sanders Sr. OL/DL 6-1 215 70 Bret Lopez So. OL/DL 6-0 285 72 Argtim Jaos Sr. OL/DL 6-2 280 73 Devon Bennett Sr. OL/DL 5-11 190 74 Ryan Hupe So. OL/DL 5-11 215 78 John Gieske Jr. OL/DL 6-2 320 82 Thomas Moretti Jr. E/DB 6-1 165 85 Andrew Lippert Sr. E/DL 6-0 190 87 James Cross Sr. OL/DL 6-1 205 88 Kyle Schejbal Sr. E/DL 6-1 195 Head coach: Rich Crabel

GENEVA No. Name Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. 1 Sean Chambers Jr. DB 6-3 185 2 Alex Reed Sr. W0 6-5 185 3 Stephen Kemp Jr. DL 6-0 225 4 Pace Temple Sr R/DB 6-2 190 5 Justin Taormina Jr. RB/DB 5-10 165 6 Mitchell Merges Jr. LB 6-3 180 7 Daniel Santacaterina Sr. QB 6-2 190 8 Brock Perry Sr. DB 6-1 160 9 Matthew Loberg Sr. DL 6-2 235 10 Maxwell Woodworth Sr. RB 5-7 185 11 Jake Rocks Sr. DB 5-7 140 12 Tony Fencl Sr DB 5-6 135

See ROSTERS, page 26

• Thursday, August 28, 2014

Yr. So. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. So. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. So. So. Sr. Sr. So. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. So. So. Sr. So. Jr. So. Jr.

TOUCHDOWN 2014 | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

AURORA CENTRAL CATHOLIC

No. Name 2 Griffin Zajac 3 Colin Baillie 4 Brandon Babler 5 Mario May 6 Tyler Bresnak 7 Johhny Belskis 9 Matt Rahn 11 Victor Franco 17 A.J. Zajac 20 Matt Liptrot 21 Brendan Ruehl 22 Alex Schüler 23 Roman Padilla 24 Josh Wilson 25 Patrick Flanigan 26 Kyle Nilo 28 Khalil Guisse 31 Jared Friedrich 32 Thomas Canning 35 Jacob Bunce 38 Jake Staudacher 40 Sam Keilty 42 Sean Tobin 47 Ben Ariano 52 Jeff Kus 53 Victor Ramos 54 Joe Dempsey 55 Chris Pedersen 56 Micah Miller 61 Sebastian Warren 63 Chris Nilo 65 Danny Eul 72 Brant Krpan 74 Mikey Malawski 75 Jacob Ishmael 76 Mitchell Feltes 86 Logan Mitzel 89 Ross Cortino Head coach: Brian Casey

2014 PREP FOOTBALL ROSTERS

| TOUCHDOWN 2014

• ROSTERS

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Thursday, August 28, 2014

26

Continued from page 25 13 Donny Friedel Jr. DB 5-10 155 14 Matt Rinne Jr. QB 6-2 165 16 Jack Mayes Sr. TE 6-2 185 17 Michael Landi Sr. WO 6-6 185 19 Chris Barger Sr. DB 5-11 180 20 Grant Henderson Sr. LB 5-8 170 21 Nick Carlton Sr. DB 5-7 160 22 Liam Burns Sr. RB 5-7 170 23 Tyler Landrum Jr. DB 5-8 120 24 Justin Nebel Sr. RB 5-5 130 25 Collin Lee Jr. DL 6-2 190 26 Nate Donati Sr. LB 5-8 165 27 Marcus Cresenzo Sr. DB 6-1 170 28 Ethan Roesch Sr. DB 5-6 160 30 Jacob Radke Jr. RB 5-6 160 31 Jason Croci Sr. DB 5-9 150 32 Ryan Zima Sr. TE 5-10 155 33 Liam Crawshaw Sr. LB 5-11 190 34 David Burchard Sr. RB 5-9 165 36 Ryan Skibinski Jr. WO 5-9 145 37 Alec Keating Jr. RB 5-10 170 38 Jack McCloughan Sr. DL 6-4 205 39 Alec Miszuk Jr. DB 5-8 150 40 Vincent DeMeo Jr. RB 5-11 150 41 Luke Will Sr. LB 6-2 190 42 Jack Bodine Jr. LB 6-1 200 43 Zack Thompson Jr. DB 5-11 170 44 Wyatt Shodeen Sr. LB 5-9 215 45 Marko Guerrieri Jr. DB 5-9 145 46 Zeke Buck Jr. WO 6-1 155 47 Michael Huck Sr. DB 5-8 160 48 Ty McAvoy Jr. RB 5-7 170 50 Tim Green Jr. LB 5-10 190 51 Ryan Hurley Sr. OL 5-11 205 52 Andrew Modjeski Sr. OL 5-7 180 54 Nick Schmook Jr. DL 6-1 215 55 Brian Baumgartner Jr. DL 5-8 185 57 Matt Julseth Jr. OL 5-10 210 60 Adam Dahlberg Jr. OL 6-1 255 61 Ryan Scopa Sr. DL 5-4 180 62 Joey Wagner Sr. OL 5-11 280 63 T.K. Hood Sr. DL 6-2 270 64 Matt Pawlak Jr. OL 6-4 230 65 Thomas Alwin Sr. DL 6-0 240 66 Samuel Post Sr. DL 5-11 220 67 Joe Hendrickson Jr. DL 6-3 215 68 Michael Radlinski Jr. DL 6-1 230 70 John Boenzi Jr. OL 6-0 205 71 Ben Baker Sr. OL 6-7 285 72 Bobby Ariss Jr. OL 6-0 250 74 Zach Ostrowski Jr. DL 5-11 200 76 Sean McKenzie Sr. OL 6-0 285 78 Michael Forni Sr. OL 6-1 255 79 Loudon Vollbrecht Jr. OL 6-6 255 81 Jack Wassel Jr. WO 6-1 165 82 Stephen Moyer Sr. TE 6-4 200 83 Alex Browere Sr. WO 5-9 135 85 Brad Thomas Sr. TE 6-3 170 86 Matthew Leban Sr. WO 6-0 150 87 Brendan Hines Jr. WO 6-1 170 88 Noah Bieszke Jr. DB 5-9 160 Head coach: Rob Wicinski

KANELAND

No. Name Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. 1 Matt Noel So. 6-0 160 2 Owen Korpela Sr. 6-0 190 3 Austin Wheatley Sr 5-8 150 4 Isaac Swithers Sr 5-8 175 7 Grant Burris Jr. 6-2 170 8 Austin Vickery Jr. 5-11 195 11 Kevin Fuchs Sr 6-0 205 12 Jake Marczuk Jr. 5-10 165 15 Stephen VanHorn Jr. 5-11 170 17 Kyle Diehl Sr 5-8 150 18 Connor Fedderly Sr. 5-7 155 22 Mitchell Groen Jr. 6-3 180 23 Alec Aurelio Jr. 5-5 150 25 Luke Olson Sr. 5-11 185 26 Kyle Fugger Sr. 6-1 190 27 Isaiah Baarenklau Jr. 5-10 166

Sandy Bressner – sbressner@shawmedia.com

St. Charles East’s Brennan Bosch (69) readies for a drill during a recent practice at the school in St. Charles.

28 Giovanni Regalado Jr 5-10 165 35 James Savas Jr. 5-9 140 38 Lio Arredendo So. 6-1 200 41 Joey Esposito Jr. 5-10 180 44 Zack Parker Jr. 5-8 185 45 Tyler Kurzrock Jr. 5-11 205 46 Nicholas Wilson Jr. 6-1 163 50 Logan Strang Jr. 6-2 210 51 Brandon Kigyos Sr. 5-11 190 52 Tom Price Sr 5-1 200 53 Jacob Gomes Jr. 6-5 225 55 Danny Hammermeister Sr. 6-2 222 69 Zachary Douglas Sr. 6-5 200 74 Nick Soucie Jr. 6-0 237 75 Andrew Kray Jr. 6-0 276 77 Tristan Kinde Jr. 6-3 276 82 Brock Harner So. 6-1 170 83 Tyler Paulson Jr. 5-7 145 Head coach: Tom Fedderly

MARMION

No. Name Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. 2 Nick Stich Sr. SE/B 5-10 155 3 Sean Campbell Sr. RB/B 5-11 185 5 Abe Moore Sr. SE/B 6-1 185 6 John Tate Jr. QB/B 6-4 215 10 Rusty Joyce Sr. QB/B 5-10 170 12 Alex Valenti Sr. SE/B 6-0 165 13 Collin Gibson So. QB/B 5-10 155 20 Matt Talarico Jr. RB/B 5-10 170 21 Nick Funk Jr. SE/B 5-10 155 22 Jordan Glasgow Sr. RB/B 6-1 200 23 Cole Bonebrake Jr. RB/B 5-10 180 24 Nate Traxler Jr. RB/B 6-3 200 25 Eli Baltazar Jr. RB/B 5-8 160 27 Evan Pickard Sr. TE/DE 6-6 215 30 Noel Abraham Sr. RB/B 5-8 175 31 Malcolm Confer Sr. RB/DE 6-0 190 32 Kyle Jordan Sr. RB/LB 6-1 210 33 Matt Ferraro Jr. RB/B 5-10 175 34 Rory Arnold Sr. RB/LB 6-1 210 35 Eric Bacorn Sr. TE/LB 6-1 195 36 Patrick Zolfo Sr. SE/B 6-0 160

37 Zach Turnbow Sr. SE/B 5-10 160 40 Ian Valaik Jr. SE/B 5-11 175 42 Anthony Campbell Sr. SE/B 6-2 195 43 Wade Gunderson Sr. RB/LB 6-0 200 44 Nick Auriemma So. RB/LB 5-10 200 45 Chris Valenti Sr. 6-2 SE/B 170 46 Lucas Warren Jr. RB/LB 6-0 235 50 Neil Peterson Sr. T/DE 6-2 220 52 Jeremy Daum Jr. G/DT 6-0 200 53 Zach Fincher So. K 5-10 170 54 Baylor Johnson Jr. C/T 5-10 185 56 Luke Juriga Sr. G/T 6-4 270 63 Adam Prosser Jr. G/T 6-1 250 64 Andres Lerma Sr. G/T 5-9 175 65 Michael Cooney Fr. K 5-9 160 69 Peter Capetillo Jr. C/T 5-11 200 71 Tim Clohecy Sr. T/T 6-2 230 73 Connor Hoeft So. K 6-2 205 74 John Gauthier Sr. T/T 6-6 270 76 Ben Freda Sr. C/T 6-0 245 77 Adam Miller Jr. T/T 6-5 265 80 Reilly Dougherty Sr. TE/DE 6-4 215 82 Joey Cherwin Sr. SE/B 6-2 205 86 Anton Blaeser Sr. SE/B 6-3 180 Head coach: Dan Thorpe

ST. CHARLES EAST

No. Name Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. 2 Matt Dorsey Sr. 5-9 165 3 Tommy Fink Sr. DB/WR 5-11 180 4 Mitch Guillaume Jr. LB 6-0 190 5 Parker Vidmich Sr. LB 6-0 200 6 Kyle Cook Sr. QB 6-1 170 7 Aiden Wright Jr. QB 5-11 150 8 Kody Kolker Jr. DB 6-0 155 9 Blake Jones Sr. LB 5-10 180 10 Jack Russell Jr. WR/LB 5-11 170 11 Nicholas Candre Jr. WR/K 6-1 170 12 Anthony Rubino Jr. DB 5-6 148 13 Nick Sciarrino Sr. QB 6-0 155 14 Thomas Ballard Jr. DB 5-10 160 15 Troy Braatelien Sr. WR 5-11 160 16 Chad Bowen Jr. QB 5-11 165

17 Adam Finke Sr. WR 5-9 150 18 David McDermott Jr. CB 5-7 150 19 Peyton Brown Jr. DB 5-9 140 20 Max Mollenhauer Sr. DB 6-2 165 22 Jacob Clodi Sr. DB 5-11 150 24 Ramon Lopez Sr. RB/DB 5-9 180 25 Matt Senger Jr. DB 6-0 170 27 Zack Pera Jr. DB 5-9 145 28 Cameron Canales Jr. RB 5-7 190 29 Kevin Cuautle Sr. RB 5-9 175 30 Connor Slattery Sr. DB 5-11 155 32 Jake Asquini Sr. WR 6-1 175 34 Berke Bearrick Jr. RB 5-11 185 35 Jack Williams Jr. DB/K 5-10 155 37 Michael Wilcox Jr. DB 5-11 165 39 Austin Griffin Jr. DB 6-0 160 41 Russell Phelps Sr. LB 5-10 145 42 John Morgan Jr. LB 5-11 180 44 Blake Saltsman Jr. LB 6-1 167 45 Max Powers Sr. DB 5-10 160 46 Jared Chimil Sr. DL 5-2 165 47 Ricky Skryd Jr. DL 6-0 180 48 Jeffrey Sommer Jr. LB 6-2 160 49 William Stevens Jr. LB 6-0 190 50 Nicholas Barron Jr. OL 5-9 165 51 Joe Meyers Sr. OL 5-8 190 53 James Vicicondi Jr. DL 5-7 150 55 Edward Harriett Sr. OL 5-9 220 57 Michael Gutierrez Jr. DL 6-1 206 58 Johnny Cotter Jr. LB 5-11 140 59 Frank Cristino Sr. DL 5-10 240 60 Jack Sharkey Sr. OL 6-0 225 61 Jake Rosenfeldt Jr. OL 6-0 200 62 Brennan Bosch Sr. OL 6-2 265 65 Anthony Bisogni Sr. DL 5-9 165 66 Larry Vivoda Jr. DL 6-4 200 70 Tyler Konecki Jr. OL 5-7 140 71 Kristopher Miller Jr. OL 6-2 190 73 Blake Lundstrom Jr. OL/DL 5-10 185 74 Zachary Reyes Sr. OL 5-11 250 75 Brian Chacha Sr. DL 6-1 201 76 Matthew Doyle Sr. OL 6-3 300

See ROSTERS, page 27

27

2014 PREP FOOTBALL ROSTERS

TOUCHDOWN 2014 | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

• ROSTERS

Continued from page 26 76 Matthew Doyle Sr. OL 6-3 300 77 Luke Neville Jr. DL 6-0 195 78 Erik Boehmer Jr. OL 6-1 248 79 Zachary Kampen Jr. DL 5-7 180 80 Zachary Camper Sr. WR 6-2 185 81 Corbin Marucco Jr. CB 5-9 150 82 Jason Turnbull Jr. WR 5-10 135 83 Vince Basile Sr. WR 5-7 125 85 Jonathan T. Ford Jr. WR 6-3 160 88 Morgan Flanigan Sr. WR/CB 5-8 155 89 Max Paladino Jr. DB 6-0 170 90 Jacob McCann Sr. DL 5-9 180 91 Blake Fialka Sr. DL 5-7 165 92 Nicholas Lombardo Sr. DL 5-9 190 98 Connor Plumb Sr. DL 6-2 210 99 Will Leite Sr. DL 6-0 240 Luis Anzaldua Jr. 6-1 165 Head coach: Bryce Farquhar

ST. CHARLES NORTH

No. Name Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. 1 Brendan Joyce Jr. DB/WR 5-10 175 2 Jake Spaniol Jr. DB/WR 6-0 175 3 Justin Skwierarski Jr. DB/WR 6-0 155 4 Jayson Reckards Jr. DB/WR 6-0 160 5 Nick Zamecnik Sr. DB/WR 6-1 175 6 Brendan Donlevy Sr. WR 6-1 177 7 Jake Chantos Jr. DB/WR 5-9 163 8 Bryan Verstat Sr. DB/RB 5-7 165 9 Chris Hegedus Sr. DB/WR 5-9 165 10 Kyle Novotney Jr. DB/QB 6-0 181 11 Tyler Mettetal So. LB/WR 6-0 197 12 Nathan Didier Sr. DB/QB 6-0 181 13 Dean McBride Sr. DB/RB 5-10 175 14 Dylan Rithhamel Jr. DB/WR 5-11 176 15 Ryan Brandt Sr. PK 6-1 175 16 Tyler Bell Sr. WR 5-9 160 18 Blake Kastein Sr. DB/WR 6-0 163 19 Ethan Fredericks Sr. DL/RB 5-10 173 21 Cole Bruett Sr. NG/RB 5-9 185

22 Dominick Sidari Jr. LB/RB 6-1 205 23 Alex Sabo Jr. DB/WR 5-7 140 24 Tom Summerwill Jr. DB/WR 5-7 150 25 Billy Duhownik Jr. LB/RB 5-11 200 26 Justin Fishbach Jr. DB/WR 6-0 180 27 David Hernandez Jr. DB/WR 5-10 162 30 John Fullem Sr. DL/RB 5-9 175 32 Nico Smolinski Jr. LB/WR 6-1 177 33 Nick McDonald Sr. DB/WR 5-10 175 34 Matt Schweitzer Jr. DB/WR 5-8 150 36 Michael Druck Sr. DB/WR 5-11 151 37 Liam Kelly Jr. LB/RB 5-11 190 38 Alex Fortcamp Jr. LB/RB 6-0 192 41 Jordan Bergren Sr. DE/TE 6-4 225 Andrew Winkleman Jr. LB/OL 6-0 210 43 Zach Woeste Sr. DB/WR 6-2 175 44 Chris Lanciloti Jr. LB/WR 5-9 170 45 Tyler Buterbaugh Jr. LB/RB 4-3 105 46 Kyle Wandle Sr. DL/OL 6-3 185 50 Kyle Begovich Jr. DL/OL 6-0 240 51 Brendan McCarthy Sr. DL/OL 6-2 220 52 Ben Thiele Sr. LB/RB 6-0 200 53 Doug Cermak Jr. LB/RB 5-10 187 54 Quinn Calcagno Jr. DL/OL 5-10 210 55 Carson Schmitt Sr. LB/OL 6-4 214 56 Jack Glavin Jr. DL/OL 6-5 232 58 Giovanni Danna Jr. LB/OL 5-9 175 61 Kevin Bragowski Sr. DL/OL 6-2 210 62 Dylan Caprini Jr. DL/OL 6-2 207 64 Dillon Conrad Jr. DL/OL 5-10 195 65 J.P. Principato Sr. DL/OL 5-9 185 66 Graham McDonald Jr. DL/OL 6-5 235 68 Ryan Turner Sr. DL/OL 6-3 270 69 Dalton Young Sr. DL/OL 6-0185 71 Ryan Ibach Jr. DL/OL 6-0 245 72 Colin Leivrow Sr. DL/OL 6-0 230 73 Logan Johnson Jr. DL/OL 6-0 230 74 Nick Keonig Jr. DL/OL 6-7 300 77 Sam Ambrogio So. DL/OL 6-3 292 78 Jackson Krantz Jr. DL/OL 6-2 245 79 Stewart Vasquez Jr. DL/OL 5-10 195 80 Sean McCarthy Jr. DL/OL 5-10 170 81 Jack Callaghan Sr. LB/TE 6-3 220 90 John Pretet Sr. DL/OL 6-3 217 95 Tyler Skott Sr. DL/OL 6-0 180

96 Harley Tobon Sr. DL/OL 5-10 190 97 Will Madura Sr. DL/OL 6-0 200 98 Chandler Rubin Jr. DL/OL 5-8 198 99 Zach Greiter Sr. DL/OL 6-2 310 Head coach: Rob Pomazak

ST. FRANCIS

No. Name Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. 1 William Purdom Jr. ATH 5-11 175 2 Matthew Hanson Sr. WR 6-2 180 4 Clint Bobowski Sr. QB 6-0 180 5 Keenan Corrigan Jr. K 5-9 130 6 Nick Dama Sr. QB 5-11 160 9 Peter Fassnacht Jr. QB/DB 5-7 155 10 Michael Beach Jr. WR/DB 6-2 175 11 Patrick Sullivan Sr. WR 6-5 180 12 Jeff Duke Sr. WR/DB 5-10 175 13 Ian Hart Sr. K 6-2 160 15 Christopher Smith Sr. WR/DB 5-8 165 17 AJ Fernandez Sr. WR/LB 6-1 190 18 Brian Marren Sr. RB/LB 5-8 170 19 Trevor Jungles Jr. 5-9 170 20 Steven Fassnacht Sr. RB/DB 5-10 185 21 Jack Ahern Sr. R/DB/P 5-9 160 22 Liam Marren Jr. RB/LB 5-9 150 23 Tristan Bolin Jr. TE/LB 6-0 170 24 Connor Lippencott Jr. LB 5-9 140 29 Thomas Petrando Jr. TE/LB 6-2 190 35 Thomas Brundage Sr. DL 5-7 170 37 Nathan Zito Sr. TE/LB 6-2 220 39 Michael Rueth Jr. RB/LB 5-7 150 50 Michael Riley Sr. OL/DL 6-0 205 51 Nicholas Kavouris Jr. OL/DL 6-2 210 52 David Dauer Sr. OL/DL 6-0 190 54 John Perry Jr. OL/DL 6-0 185 55 John Vargyas Sr. OL/LB 6-0 230 59 Jonathan Krisco Jr. OL/DL 5-9 160 60 Brandon Winkelman Jr. OL/LB 5-8 170 63 Cole Cunningham Sr. OL/DL 6-1 270 72 Kevin Killian Jr. OL/DL 6-0 230 74 Brendan Killian Sr. OL/DL 5-10 225 75 Brian Riesenberg Sr. OL/DL 6-2 200 77 Pasquale Calcagno Sr. OL/DL 6-5 225 78 Spencer Stibbe Sr. OL/DL 6-2 240 83 Michael Pelletiere Sr. DB 5-7 165

88 Michael Shaw Sr. WR/DB 6-3 180 Head coach: Mike Fitzgerald

WHEATON ACADEMY

No. Name 2 Camden Mead 3 Luis Ramos 5 David Thrasher 7 Dillon Oleson 9 Sam Martinez 12 Scottie McLean 13 Graham Cole 14 Steven Sellers 16 Ty Collins 17 Mikey Alfano 20 Mike Silfugarian 21 Kyle Maranhas 22 Grady Crawford 24 Luke Doncel 25 Marino Costello 26 Adam Marquardt 30 Tyler Jackson 32 Kordell Bowling 34 Harrison Taylor 38 Chase Martin 45 Will Litfin 50 Nori Kasai 52 Noah Owens 54 Zach Wakely 55 Nick Polimenakos 56 Nathan Meade 57 Alec Dunn 58 John Acosta 60 Tom Holmberg 63 Mitch Brunner 68 Josh Farrell 70 David McDonell 75 Josh Dutton 78 Tommy Ryan 83 Luke Manske 84 Evan Williams

Zach Stenzel Head coach: Brad Thornton

Yr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. So. Jr. So. Jr. So. So. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. Sr. So. So. So. Jr. Sr. So. Jr. Sr. Sr.

Pos. RB/LB RB/LB QB/LB R/DB R/DB RB/LB R/DB QB/DB TE/LB QB/DB RB/LB OL/LB R/LB R/DB TE/DL R/DB RB/LB R/DB R/DB RB/LB R/DB OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/LB R/RB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL R/DB OL/DL K

• Thursday, August 28, 2014

Sandy Bressner – sbressner@shawmedia.com

St. Charles North players take to the field during the first day of practice Aug. 11 at the school.

Good Luck to all the athletes this season!

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Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Thursday, August 28, 2014

| TOUCHDOWN 2014

28

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