Over the last three full seasons, the La Salle-Peru football team has gone 5-4 in the regular season to qualify for the playoffs, then suffered lopsided losses in the first round to Rochester in 2019 then Morris in each of the last two.
This season, the Cavaliers are hoping to take the next step and end a two-decade playoff-win drought that dates back to the 2003 semifinal team.
“We’re really pushing for a home playoff game,” senior lineman Adam Lane said. “We haven’t had one of
those in decades now. We want to win some playoff games, because we haven’t done that since 2003.
“It would mean everything, because we’ve been practicing since our freshman year, busting as hard as we can just to win a playoff game. That’s what we’ve been working for.”
In hopes of accomplishing that goal, the Cavs are moving away from the triple-option offense they’ve used for the last six seasons and transitioning to a more balanced attack while continuing to rely on a stingy defense.
“We’re learning it still,” senior quarterback Brendan Boudreau. “I think we’ll be ready before games. We’ve gotten better. We had all summer to prepare for it. Everyone should be pretty familiar with it now, but we’re still learning.
“(We’re still working on) just knowing the formations and what to do in the formations, like the routes we run.”
The Cavs are moving to a gap scheme offense that’s designed to get the ball to their playmakers in space.
“I think our biggest strength is speed,” Boudreau said. “(We can use that to our advantage by) spreading people out, getting the ball into the fast players’ hands.”
Boudreau is back for his second year as the team’s starting quarterback after running for five touchdowns last season and throwing for two.
Noah Zebron, Mikey Hartman and Kaleb Kennedy will be the team’s receivers, while Cordell Wheatley, Josh Senica and Brady Backes will see time at tight end.
“The No. 1 thing is making sure they catch the ball, and after that, they’re speedy kids who can make big plays,” L-P coach Jose Medina said. “What we’ve been preaching to the kids is we changed the offense for a reason: to get the ball out in space and make people miss and create big plays.”
Brody Romagnoli returns at running back after getting some carries last fall, while Brevyn Vogel also will get some carries. Mason Pagrcic and Josh Bickford will play H-back.
Up front, senior Ty Terzick returns at center, and classmate Adam Lane is back at tackle. Nolan Glynn and Brock Terzick will get time at tackle, while juniors Andy Medina and Richie Santiago will play guard.
“We’re going to be a lot stronger this year,” Lane said. “We are a more balanced offense. We have some quick guys on this team. They’ve been really working hard, and we’re going to try to get the ball in their hands to make some plays. The O-line is going to have to block and make some holes.”
After averaging 19.3 points per game last season, the Cavaliers are looking to significantly increase that output in 2023.
“That’s the goal,” Medina said. “We’re trying to keep the defense off the field a little bit and make sure we
get some points on the board as well.”
By improving offensively, the Cavs look to help a defensive unit that’s been the team’s strength in recent years. Last season, the Cavs allowed 21.8 points per game and held five opponents to two touchdowns or less.
“We’re going to be young on the back end, but up front we have some size and we have some decent speed,” Jose Medina said. “We preach to our kids we want to play aggressive and play fast. I think we can do some good things still.”
The strength of the defense is the linebacking corps, where Andy Medina returns on the outside and Danny Beavers is back on the inside. Senica will play outside linebacker, while Bickford will be the other inside linebacker.
The Cavs have a new starting defensive line with Ty Terzick and Santiago getting time at nose guard; Glynn and Landon Quiles playing defensive end. Santiago did play on the line last year, while Glynn switches from linebacker.
“Nolan made the transition to play defensive line this year, and I think he’s going to help strengthen that line for us,” Jose Medina said. “He’s quick. He’s strong. He’s got a big frame.”
In the secondary, Boudreau will play safety, Kennedy returns at cornerback, and Zebron and Hartman will play the other corner spot.
“If other teams want to score, they have to drive down the field slowly. We’re not giving up any big plays this year,” Kennedy said. “That’s what always beats us is big plays.
“(To limit big plays) we just have to play our role. If everybody trusts each other and does their job, it’s going to make the other team’s offense struggle a lot.”
On special teams,, Seth Adams returns as the team’s kicker after making 18 of 22 extra points and making all four of his field-goal attempts last season, including a pair of 43-yarders. He’ll also do some punting along with Zack Pocivasek. Romagnoli and Kennedy will return kicks and punts.
“(Adams) has worked hard and has dedicated his time to getting stronger, working on accuracy and consistency,” Medina said. “Seth will give us an opportunity to get points on the board.”
By Kevin Hieronymus
When you have a horse, you ride it.
That’s what Randy Tieman did when he returned to coach the Hall Red Devils last year. He plugged in senior Mac Resetich at quarterback and rode him as far as he could.
Resetich had a record-breaking season for most yards rushing (2,227) and touchdowns (30) at Hall, including single-game school records of 429 yards and seven TDs in a 66-45 win over Mendota, leading the Red Devils into the 4A playoffs.
With Resetitch riding off to the University of Illinois to play for the Fighting Illini, the Red Devils have some
big shoes to fill.
Asked what he’s going to do without Resetitch, arguably the best all-around athlete in Hall history, Tieman said, “I’m going to cry a lot, I think.
“Those kind of kids don’t come around very often. It will be the only time I coach a kid like that.”
The biggest question in the Red Devils’ camp will be how will they make up for the huge loss of Resetich, who accounted for 90% of their offense?
They will utilize a committee with the likes of senior Gianni Guerrini at quarterback, and seniors Joseph Bacidore and Tristan Redcliff and sophomores Braden Curran and Aiden
Redcliff, who will all see time in the backfield.
“We’re going to distribute the ball to other kids. We’ve got some kids that can play a little bit. We’ll see what happens. We’ll try some things out and see how it works,” said Tieman, now in his 10th year overall and second in his second stint as the Hall head coach.
“We’ll run the same type of stuff. We just have to make our reads. Mac did a real good job at that. He kept the ball most of the time, but he did it for a reason. He didn’t put himself ahead of the team, but he did what it took to win.”
Guerrini said the Red Devils are up for the challenge.
“I think we’re going to be a pretty good team this year. (More) team play, spread the ball around more (and) have a good offense, give everybody a look,” Guerrini said.
Bacidore said it will take some changes, but is excited to be more involved.
“We’re trying to incorporate more (backs). Because (Resetich) got the ball most of the time, so we’re getting away from the quarterback runs the ball,” he said. “Try to get the ball run around everywhere. That’s what we’ve been working on.
“I’ll probably get the ball a whole lot more than I did last year. It’s exciting.”
Tieman said senior Leo Lopez will anchor the Hall line along with junior Cameron Spradling and sophomore Jacob Mongan. They’ll be joined up front by seniors Landon Glynn and Joel Koch, juniors James Irwin, Ben Heerdt, Bryce Smith, Mike Terry and Connor Keeling and sophomores Kaiden Kennedy and Eric Vipond.
The Red Devils return a good portion of its defense, minus the talents of Resetich. Tristan Redcliff returns as
the leading tackler (92) at inside linebacker along with Koch (51 tackles, 9 sacks) up front, Bacidore at outside linebacker and Guerrini (fourth year) and DeAnthony Weatherspoon (third year) at cornerback.
“We’re bringing back experience (on defense). I would hope we’d be stronger this year,” Tieman said. “We’re a little thin on (defensive) lineman, but we’ve got some kids who got some time last year. So we’ll see.”
This will be the second of a twoyear co-op deal with Putnam County. While no PC player saw varsity action last year, Tieman anticipates a couple to contribute this year, including junior lineman Spradling.
Tieman expects the Red Devils to be competitive in the Three Rivers East.
“I really don’t know what everybody is bringing back for sure. I know Princeton is bringing back a really, really good line. They’ll have some skill kids.
So I know they’ll be the odds on favorite again,” he said. “Other than that, I think we’ll compete in conference. Just have to see what happens week in and week out. It’s usually a pretty tough conference.
“I think we’ll compete with teams. I don’t know how much we’ll win and lose, but we’ll compete.”
Bacidore believes the Red Devils have what it takes for another winning season.
“I think we’ll have a winning record. Not sure what the record will be, but I say winning,” he said.
Hall has picked up IVC as a Week 6 replacement for St. Bede, which will serve as the homecoming game on Friday, Sept. 29.
There will be two other newcomers to the Hall schedule — Riverdale for the home opener Sept. 1 and Rockridge for the Oct. 13 senior night game.
By
will
be looking to achieve something the program hasn’t done since 2006 and 2007. Make the IHSA playoffs in two con-
secutive seasons.
Ottawa, however, earned a 34-9 win over Woodstock at a charged-up King Field in Week 9 to clinch their postseason-qualifying fifth win. It was its first playoff berth since 2012, and the fifth victory matched the win total for the previous six seasons combined.
“We were honest with the kids before last season and again this past summer. ... There shouldn’t be 10 years in between Ottawa making the football playoffs,” Gross said. “Making it to the playoffs should be the norm here.
“The team, especially the seniors, didn’t just get lucky to play in Week 10; they earned that right because they worked their butts off for four years to make that happen. They set the standard, so now it’s up to this year’s to not only get there, but to also set the bar higher.”
Ottawa, which dropped its firstround Class 5A playoff game to Mahomet-Seymour 40-14 to finish 5-5, lost a number of key players to gradua-
tion, but also return many that helped make that Week 10 game possible.
This season’s Pirates return senior RB Ryder Miller, who led the team in rushing yards (537) and touchdowns (11), while seniors Keevon Peterson, Luke Boaz (FB) and junior Tristan Finley will also be mainstays in the backfield. QB Colby Mortensen, a senior, is back after producing a solid junior season and will have plenty of targets to throw to, including senior wide receivers Packston Miller, Tyce Kubiak, Hayden Swett, junior Weston Averkamp (QB on JV last two seasons) and sophomore Archer Cechowicz.
The offensive line will have returners in senior anchor Michael Mills, senior Ryan Wilson and junior Payton Carretto. Gross says juniors Miles Fredrickson and Christian Mealley, as well as sophomores Evan Paris and Jaxon Carrier, will be in the mix.
“Season-to-season can be a double-edged sword ... your players graduate that held down key spots, but
in turn that creates opportunity and competition the next season to fill them,” Gross said. “It’s coach-speak, but it’s the truth: Great teams execute, take care of the football, are exceptional in the basic things, make plays when they are there to make, limit the mistakes they make and take full advantage of their opponents’ mistakes. When we did those things last season, we had success.
“Last year was the first group I’ve had as a head coach that if something bad happened, they knew and believed in each other that they could make up the difference. This season needs to be the same way.”
On the defensive side, Gross will have returning senior DE Cody Sprowls, a strong kid who the head coach said he’s looking to as the leader up front. There’s also junior Jake Stubblefield, Mills, Wilson, Carretto, Mealley, Paris and Carrier. The linebacker corp will be spearheaded by Boaz and Finley in the middle spots, with senior Garrett Cupples, Averkamp and
Peterson and Swett will more than likely get the first shots at the starting cornerback spots, but Gross says there are a number of guys still competing for their opportunity. Cechowicz will play safety, possibly Miller as well.
The Pirates also have a solid weapon in the special teams game with senior K/P Cam Loomis. Gross says Loomis has already kicked a 55-yard field goal in early practices and is putting a high percentage of his kickoffs in the end zone.
“We had so many positives last season, but that said, we still have to continue to work on improving each and every day,” Gross said. “This group has goals, and they are working hard to hopefully make those goals a reality. A lot of them saw what it takes to be a playoff team, what it takes to get to that next level. Now they just have to maintain that and reach even higher.
“This is a very confident group.”
The Fieldcrest Knights took their lumps last season, as they did not win a game on the field (their lone win came via a forfeit from Fisher), but head coach Nick Meyer’s team was young and now has a big group of experienced players. Senior WR/DB Jozia Johnson (16 rec., 367 yards, TD), junior RB/DB Eddie Lorton (275 rushing yards, 2 TDs; 82 receiving yards), junior TE/LB Jackson Hakes, senior OL/DL Aydin Stimpert and senior QB/DB Brady Ruestman (57142-13, 749 yards, 2 TDs) each started every game on both sides of the ball last season. Lorton, Hakes, Stimpert and Ruestman were voted Fieldcrest’s captains for this season. “We have experienced skill players, size, strength and commitment to the process,” Meyer said about the team’s strengths. Sophomore OL/ DL Chance Hedrick and sophomore WR/DB Braden Hahn are newcomers to the varsity who are expected to be contributors this season as the Knights will play in the HOIC Small for the first time since the league division into large and small divisions in 2015. Fieldcrest looks to snap a 17-game losing streak. The Knights’ last on-the-field win was a 45-14 victory over El Paso-Gridley on April 9, 2021.
When it comes to a recipe for success this fall, fourth-year Streator head coach Kyle Tutt doesn’t have a lot of seniors — the Bulldogs have six, to be precise — as ingredients.
What Tutt and the Bulldogs do have are good numbers from the junior and sophomore classes providing a step up in terms of overall team depth, an expectation of improved play along the lines and third-year starting quarterback Christian Benning.
“Coming back from last year, we have lots of returners,” Tutt said, “but we’re still pretty young. I think we have six seniors, but we feel pretty good with the guys we have out there.”
At the top of that list is Benning, an all-around athlete who is already Streator’s single-season and all-time leading passing yardage leader. He enters his senior season with 2,750 yards passing after a 132-for-244, 1,418-yard, 13-touchdown campaign a year ago with an additional 329 yards and four TDs rushing.
Tutt knows the coaches on the Bulldogs’ schedule will be aiming to stop the dual-threat QB.
“Yeah, good luck. That’s where we’re leaving it at,” Tutt said. “We’re going to put the ball in his hands, and he’s going to be able to run or pass, and he’s going to make the right decision and hopefully not the wrong decision. But he’s going to be that guy. ...
“He’s a great athlete, and he’s competitive. We think when you give the ball to somebody like that, you have a great opportunity to be successful.”
Fellow returners such as Matt Williamson (like Benning, a TimesAll-Area first-team selection after compiling 43 receptions for 481 yards), OL Anthony Dominic (a three-year starter moving to center to anchor the O-line), WRs Anthony Mohr (a special teams standout last season) and Jake Hagie (who’s been impressive this summer) and RB Isaiah Brown (who will be spotted by Jordan Lukes) are all proven, experienced juniors.
They, along with Benning and fel-
low key pieces such as WR Liam Martin, OLs Malachi Hankins and Luke Gebhardt and TEs Zach Schultz and David Harcharik will power what Tutt calls his ‘multi-formational RPO” — run-pass option — offense. Isaiah Weibel, coming off a strong season quarterbacking the sophomore team, will serve as Benning’s backup, with Williamson also having quarterbacking experience.
Gebhardt, Hankins and Dominic are the cornerstones around which the Bulldogs’ O-line will be built.
“Those are three guys we’re going to lean on,” Tutt said. “Then it’s finding the other two guys who want to step up and earn those other spots and be starting linemen.”
On defense, Tutt has seen Weibel grow into a leader from his linebacking spot. Fellow main-rotation linebackers project to include sophomore Cole Winterrowd, James Pawelczyk, Harcharik and Liam Martin. The defensive backfield, a strength of last year’s defense despite Streator’s 39.0 points per game surrendered during a 2-7 season, will trend younger but still fast with Collin Jeffries, Jordan Lukes, Jaiandre Williams and Quintin Goforth leaders.
As for the defensive line, Tutt cites it as the area ripe for the most improvement, led by the likes of Eric Moton, Jorrick Black, Tyrese Hendricks, Aidan Stevens, Dylan Childers, Kalon Kistantear, Tyler Barbee and possibly Martin.
“The D-line is somewhere we’ve spent a lot of time, and we brought a coach in specifically to work with the D-line,” Tutt said. “We’re hoping that we can improve there.”
Astute readers may have noticed there are few if any Bulldogs scheduled to play both ways. That is by design, with the coaching staff deciding it’s the best way to take advantage of the depth the large junior and sophomore classes bring and get the most out of its players while also adding the potential for starters to contribute more on special teams.
Streator opens one last time against East Peoria, hosting the Raiders on
Aug. 25 before heading up Route 23 the following Friday to resume the state’s third-oldest rivalry against Ottawa in Week 2. Then the Bulldogs enter Illinois Central Eight Conference play, where they’ll need to do better than last season’s 1-6 showing to make the playoffs for
since 2017.
“Always, without a doubt, we want to be on a playoff run,” Tutt said. “Our goal is to see where we compete in our conference, and then hopefully get into the playoffs, because we feel our conference is good enough that, if we can get there, we’ll have seen a high level of competition.”
By J.T. Pedelty
When it comes to improving on last fall’s disappointing 2-7 campaign, the Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland Falcons feel it’s all about time.
The time a young team spent learning on the field last season, and the time the Falcons have spent in the weight room ever since.
Now, the Falcons believe it’s their time.
FCW opens in Flanagan against West Central to start the Illinois 8-Man Football Association season on Friday, Aug. 25. When they do, the Falcons will be returning six starters on both offense and defense who are another year wiser and, thanks to a team-wide commitment to the weight room, stronger.
“Our strengths coming into this season are experience from last year’s team and the amount of time kids put in the weight room in the offseason,” fifth-year head coach Todd Reed (1817 record) said. “We knew at the end of last year we had to get stronger to be able to compete every game.”
Of the returners for the Falcons, seniors are expected to lead the way.
That includes RB/TE Kesler Collins, OL/DL Drew Novotney, OL/DL Emerson Weber, TE Kenny Eutsey, OL/ DL Noah Fink, OL/DL Josh Lane, OL/DL Logan Dennis, OL/DL Logan Steinquist, WR/DB Isaac Follmer and RB/DB Payton Quaintance, who’s expected to be a workhorse for the Falcons after sharing carries a year ago with the graduated Jesse Simpson.
“Payton Quaintance will be getting a majority of the carries at tailback, as he has a year of varsity experience under his belt,” Reed said. “We need to improve offensively by holding our blocks and taking care of first level before our linemen/running backs climb to the second level.”
Also back on offense are last year’s backup QB Seth Jones (“great arm, smart football IQ,” Reed said), C/ DL Aydan Radke, WR/DB Zandar Radke and OL/DLs Blake Ruddy and Calix Stout. The Falcons’ attack will be bolstered by the likes of RB/ LB Brennan Edens and OL/DL Blake
Ruddy, both of whom missed last season with injuries, sophomore RB/LB Leelynd Durbin and a trio of speedy receivers — Connor Reed, Jonathan Moore and Jaron Follmer — who have shown playmaking ability throughout the summer.
On the defensive side, expect linebackers Toby Hansen and Collins along with defensive back Quaintance and lineman Aydan Radke to be the backbone of a unit looking to improve on the flinch-inducing 48.8 points per game it allowed last season. The Falcons admittedly had a fierce schedule,
playing seven of the I8FA’s playoff teams, and scoring is higher in the wide-open eight-man game, but that number will need to go way down for FCW to realize its goal of returning to the eight-man playoffs for the fourth time since making the move to eightman following three consecutive winless 11-man seasons from 2016-18.
“We need to improve defensively by swarming to the ball and gang-tackling,” said Reed, “keep our linebackers free to flow to the ball and work at getting better on our pass coverage. …
“[Our] team goal is making the playoffs and taking it one game at a time to get there. Our kids are hungry this year and have worked hard to get to where they are today. Now it is time for them to see the rewards on the football field!”
Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland will open the season with three consecutive home contests. The homestand starts with the aforementioned opener at Flanagan followed by St. Thomas More visiting Woodland on Sept. 1 and Milford-Cissna Park coming to Flanagan on Sept. 8.
By Kevin Hieronymus
It is ranked No. 1 in Class 3A in some preseason polls.
It has gone 45-9 over the last five seasons with one semifinal appearance, two quarterfinals and five straight conference championships.
It boasts two Division I commits on their line and another Division I prospect at end.
It returns seven starters on a defense that allowed just 10.8 ppg (three shutouts) during the regular season and 12.8 overall.
It’s safe to say the Princeton Tigers have a good thing going, and there’s no signs of stopping the train any time soon.
“As a coach, you’re always playing devil’s advocate finding little things as a program you’ve got to get better at. But our kids got pretty lofty goals,” Princeton coach Ryan Pearson said. “I think our kids have done a good job being focused and paying attention to
the details and all the little things that add up to success.
“They have goals to win a sixth conference championship in a row, and hopefully we can get over the hump and get past the quarters, which has seemed to be our bug-a-boo the past few years.”
It’s no secret the Tigers graduated some top talent with the likes of allstater Teegan Davis, Danny Cihocki, Augie Christiansen and CJ Hickey, but they are reloading for another deep postseason run.
“We’ve got seven seniors back on defense, which is a really good nucleus to build around. Offensively, yes, we have some new faces in the backfield, but I think they are very talented kids,” Pearson said. “I know they may not have Teegan Davis going to the University of Iowa ability, but they’re still very good football players. We’ve got a good stable of running backs we’re able to rotate, got some great receivers to throw to.
“And the nice thing, those kids, even though they may be young and
have a little bit of a learning curve ahead of them, they have an expe -
rienced line in front of them. That’s always a huge plus.”
Junior Will Lott steps in at quarterback, having served as understudy to Davis and receiving a lot of playing time, the equivalent of six full games in blowouts with the clock running last year. He also stepped in as a freshman when Davis was injured.
Pearson said the Tigers will have a “three-headed monster” in the backfield with running backs Ace Christiansen, Casey Etheridge and Common Green along with returning starting senior fullback Preston Arkels.
“They’re all hard-nosed runners, good blockers and great receivers. We’re working different packages this year to utilize all four of them,” Pearson said.
The line on both sides of the ball is as strong as any you will be find in Class 3A, headed by seniors Payne Miller, a Western Illinois University commit, and Bennett Williams, an Air Force Academy recruit.
“I’m biased, because I love my kids, but I truly think we’re going to have a very good line up front offensively and defensively, and we have a ton of depth,” Pearson said. “You don’t see a lot of schools our size have that depth. Lot of schools have guys going two ways. We’re blessed to be able to rotate a lot of our guys, and we don’t feel we drop off much.”
Miller (6-2/285) returns at right guard along with senior Jack May (6-1/250) and junior Cade Odell (511/270) at the tackles with junior Anthony Vujanov (5-9/205) stepping in at left guard and sophomore Rhett Pearson (5-9/220) at center.
Because of their depth, Pearson has the luxury of allowing the imposing Williams to concentrate on the defensive side of the ball at end. He’ll be joined on the D-line by stalwarts Miller and Odell.
Other key returners on defense are juniors Ian Morris, the top returning tackler (113), Arthur Burden (82) and Christiansen (72) at linebacker and LaPorte at free safety. Senior Evan Driscoll returns from injury to step in at linebacker along with Green, while seniors Carlos Benavidez and Daniel Sousa and Lott will see time at cornerback.
Williams and Miller are confident the Tigers will remain formidable this year.
“We have a really strong defense. Most of it’s returning. Obviously, it’s a big loss losing Teegan, but I feel that William (Lott) can fill that spot really well. And I feel like the rest of our skill players and offensive line is going to be able to do a really good job and get us good scores while keeping the other teams from scoring much,” Williams said.
The fact that the Marquette Academy football program lost such a very large, very talented senior class from last year’s prolific 9-2 club has led to some scuttlebutt around Ottawa.
Rumor has is that this will be a “down” year for the Crusaders, and a tough new conference will spell an end to their string of 10 consecutive playoff berths.
And those Crusaders don’t like that kind of talk. Not one little bit.
Graduated from last year’s MA club that averaged 31.5 points and 317.4 yards per game on its way to the postseason are nine of their 10 members named to The Times All-Area Team and six of the seven first-team selections, leaving some big shoes to fill.
However, veteran coach Tom Jobst is seeing a spirit that will hopefully make those doubters eat their words.
“Our first (official) practice was probably the crispest, most enthusiastic first practice I can ever remember coming to,” said Jobst, who has a 10036 record in his 13 seasons at Marquette. “We’ve had a great summer, did a lot of good work in the weight room, there’s a lot of camaraderie.
“We are replacing a lot of guys, but there were guys here last year that worked their way up; they were unselfish, they worked hard even though they weren’t regulars, and now it’s their turn, and I think that’s the mark of a good situation.
“These kids, they’re hearing all the chatter, and I don’t think they like it. That’s a good thing. They know they can be good.”
There’s no denying replacing players like 2021 Times Player of the Year Tommy Durdan, Alex Graham, Jurnee Reed, Vinnie Battestelli, Logan Nelson, Ethan Price, Noah Barth, Caden Eller and Griffin Walker will be a chore, especially moving into a league for the first time since 2019.
The new Chicagoland Prairie boasts three other 2022 playoff teams: Ridgewood, Seneca and St. Bede, Marquette’s opponents in weeks 6, 7 and 8.
The loss of those speedy game-breakers leaves the offense shifting gears into a more grind-it-out, eat-the-clock version of Jobst’s legendary wing-T attack. That puts the onus on the offensive line, where three starters return.
The lone remaining Times honoree, first-team tight end/linebacker senior Charlie Mullen (9 catches, 156 yards, 2 TD; 7 TFL, 2 INT), returns with senior center Stefen Swords and junior right guard Sam Mitre, joined by three new senior starters in Henry McGrath, Andrew Hamm and Will Carlson, plus junior Keaton Davis.
Competing will be juniors Sean Kath, Tommy Stafford and Tommy Walsh and sophomores Austin Ferracuti and Ty Warrner.
“Physically, we’re not that small,” Jobst said. “The center is 230, right guard 230, right tackle 230, tight end 185, left guard 210, left tackle 190. That’s not so bad. … The weight room work is paying off. We have speed and strength, which is what you want. The size is just the icing on the cake.
“But last year, we had a bunch of game-breakers, this year one or two. This is more of a grinder team, solid on offense, just not with as many bigplay guys. We want to move the ball and get points at the end of it, eating up the clock doing it.”
The backfield is largely inexperienced, led by senior halfback Pete McGrath (17 carries, 57 yards). Joining him will be senior fullback Jacob Smith and junior halfback Payton Gutierrez, while sophomore Anthony Crouch steps in at quarterback after showing great potential at the lower level.
Defensively, senior Luke Amicon joins Swords, Hamm and Henry McGrath up front, while Smith and Pete McGrath handle the inside linebackers and Mullen and Gutierrez the outside.
Only a few days into workouts, the defensive backfield is somewhat up for grabs, but Couch figures to play a role there, along with junior Nolan DeMink and sophomores Grant Dose and Jaxson Higgins.
Junior Jason Rix and Rush Keefer leads sophs Marcus Baker, Matt Graham, Kane Mosely and Jacob Siena in vying for time.
“These are kids who you never know what to expect from them until they get to this time in their career,” Jobst said. “The younger kids have stepped up and pretty much said this is our year, and we’re gonna make it happen, and they’re doing what they have to do to get ready.
“Their greatest asset is their enthusiasm. They’re an intelligent group, hard workers and tight-knit. They root each
other on in the weight room and out here on the practice field, and that’s always a good thing.”
By Kevin Hieronymus
The signs are there.
Bureau Valley is returning seven starters on both sides of the ball, including a pair of four-year starters.
Senior Connor Scott, the Storm’s leading tackler three years running, is bigger and stronger. Senior Jon Dybeck returns as a stalwart on the line for both sides of the ball. Junior quarterback Bryce Helms has a full year under his belt after being thrown into a new position last year at the varsity level. And the Storm had a productive summer camp.
Could this be the year the Storm have their first winning season in seven years? Head coach Mat Pistole believes so.
“We feel really good about certain players,” Pistole said. “Connor Scott and Jon Dybek are going to be fouryear starters for us. (We’re) bringing back Bryce Helms and Brady Hartz that played a good role for us last year.
Brock Shane, Cameron Lemons, Elijah Endress, Aidan Morris bunch of guys that played a lot of football last year and gained a lot of valuable experience. I think that bodes well for us.
“I think we can compete at a higher level than we did last year. We have to stay healthy like every team and we have to execute at a higher level. We’ve got to find a competitive spirit that maybe’s been missing. That’s something we’ve been working on. I think this group is capable. I certainly believe in them. Now we’ve got to prove it on Friday nights.”
The Storm, which went 1-8 a year ago, had a strong showing at the Princeton 7-on-7 Tournament, finishing second on admittedly a favorable schedule. Nonetheless, it was a confidence booster.
Dybek and Scott want to go out as seniors and believe they can.
“I feel like we’re all ready to win. This group of seniors have put in a lot of work from last year and we’re ready
to win,” Dybek said. “Coming in, me and Connor as freshmen, didn’t feel like we had that much control over the game. Now as seniors, feels like there’s a lot of leadership and control that we have in the game.”
“We’ve seen an increase in our numbers a little bit. The size of our kids has grown. Got a great attitude coming into the season. Looking forward to it,” Scott said.
Scott (guard) and Dybek (tackle) will anchor the Storm line alongside classmates Aidan Morris (tackle), Blake Erickson (center) and junior Bracin Patnoe (guard).
Pistole said Helms gained a lot of valuable experience playing quarterback for the first time at the varsity level and has worked hard to improve his game.
The rest of the backfield has promise with senior Cameron Lemons, junior Elijah Endress and sophomore Brady Hartz, who shined with 150 yards rushing in his varsity debut in
last year’s season finale. The receiving crew will consist of seniors Corban Chhim, Eli Attig, Blake Foster and Shane.
There’s been some good position battles defensively in the Storm camp, Pistole said. Dybek and Morris will man the tackle spots with juniors Ayden Andrade and Braden Patnoe vying for nose guard. Scott (82 tackles), Endress and Lemons will play linebacker. Shane is locked in at one cornerback spot with Chhim and senior Eli Attig vying for the other. Helms will be joined at safety by a cast of Hartz, senior Payton Walowski, junior Drake Hardy and Attig.
Pistole said the Storm will have their hands full in the TRAC East.
“When Bureau Valley comes to town,” he said, “we want to be known as a team that plays really hard, is going to compete at a high level and do things the right way. This year’s version of the Bureau Valley Storm is going to be able to do that more times than not.”
By Dan Wussow
After reaching the Illinois 8-Man Football Association state semifinals two seasons ago and nabbing a runner-up finish last season, the Clippers are riding high. With the exception of quarterback Tucker Lindenmeyer – a 2021 I8FA All-State selection in his last fully healthy season – and a handful of newcomers, it’s the same group as last year. Because of that, expectations are as high as they’ve ever been. In addition to all-stater TE/DE Brennan Blaine, the Amboy co-op returns its top two rushers: halfback Landon Whelchel and fullback Quinn Leffelman. It also brings back an ex-
perienced and talented offensive line.
TE/DE Tucker Lindenmeyer returns after an all-state season, with junior Eddie Jones taking over as the starting quarterback after performing well when needed last year. “It does a lot for our confidence. These guys know that everyone’s back, and I think it gives us a really good shot,” Clippers coach Scott Payne said. “They all know the offense, defense, so coming into camp week and doubles, we’re already a couple steps ahead. They’ve been in the program for three years now, because most of them started as sophomores, so it helps a lot having all these guys coming back. It’s a great thing to have.”
Last fall, the Mendota football team had 14 seniors, the largest graduating class in coach Keegan Hill’s tenure. And last year’s seniors filled a lot of positions.
“Those guys being gone will open up some roles for some new faces,” said Hill, who is entering his sixth season.
Offensively, the Trojans do return some key pieces in quarterback Justin Randolph and receiver Braiden Freeman.
Last season, Randolph completed 89 of 169 passes for 1,472 yards and 11 touchdowns, with Freeman catching 32 passes for 651 yards and four TDs.
Keegan Beetz, Aiden Tillman and Rhett Watson also will contribute at receiver.
“I’m a senior this year, so it’s my second year doing this,” Randolph said. “We passed the ball pretty well last year, so having another year of experience and having receivers like Braiden Freeman, Keegan Beetz and Aiden Tillman helps in the passing game.”
Keegen Stewart, Corbin Furar and Diego Sandoval will see time at running back as the Trojans look to replace Anthony Childs, who handled 66.6% of the team’s carries last season as he rushed for 1,190 yards and 15 touchdowns.
“We have a chance to be diverse in who’s carrying the ball,” Hill said.
Mendota lost a lot of size and experience on the offensive line, with only left tackle Gabe Vallejo returning. Angil Serrano also has some experience on the line, but it’s not yet determined which side of the ball he’ll play.
Joe Stewart is playing center, and Hill said he’s done well taking ownership of the line. Reese Lane, Logan Wujek and Nate Giberson also will play on the line.
“There will be a learning curve to it, but that’s to be expected,” Hill said about the new-look offensive line.
Last season, the Trojans didn’t have
much trouble scoring. They averaged 34.9 points per game and scored in the 40s in three of their eight games.
“We were pretty diverse last year, and I think we have a chance to do that again,” Hill said. “Whether that’s the same run-to-pass ratio is to be determined. Every year we want to play to the kids’ strengths. Last year we were massive, so there was a game Tony Childs had 52 carries. Justin had a nice year last year.
“We want to continue to build on that.”
While the Trojans did a good job scoring last season, they struggled to prevent opponents from scoring. They allowed 44 points per game, didn’t hold any team to less than 23 points and allowed outputs of 70, 66 and 54 points.
“On the defensive side of the ball, we just have to keep working,” Freeman said. “We have to definitely be
better than last year if we want to win games.
“I think our D-line is going to be better. I think we’re going to get to the quarterback.”
Freeman is one of two returners on defense, as he’s returning in the secondary, while Dean Gilbert is back at linebacker. Watson, Keegen Stewart, Gavin Evans and Brandon Leadley also will play defensive back. Playing alongside Gilbert at linebacker will be Furar, Sandoval and Wyatt Ossman.
Vallejo, Serrano, Joe Stewart, Mike Thornhill and Xavier Orosco will get time on the defensive line.
“We had 14 seniors last year,” Hill said. “Those guys were good at what they did, so that meant they got to play a lot. Now that they’re gone, new guys get to play a lot. There’s a learning curve.
“Absorbing what we want to do has been good. We’re not going to center it around one guy. It’s going to be a layered approach. So each layer taking ownership of their responsibilities is key.”
The Trojans will look to improve after going 3-6 last season.
“We want to play our best game every week,” Hill said. “We want to be as prepared as possible for Week 1, and however that goes — win or loss — we want to play better the next week. We want to start faster than we did last year. We did score a lot of points, but it took some time to get going. We want to get going faster in the first quarter offensively. We want to start fast on offense, then play complementary football.
“We want to be as competitive as we can possibly be.”
The Seneca football program, with many key players returning, is hoping it can carry over the success it had last fall and make another solid march to the playoffs.
The Fighting Irish completed the 2022 regular season without a loss, claimed their third playoff berth since 2002 and earned the most wins in a season (10) for the program since 2000.
Seneca celebrated its first trip to the postseason since 2019 with a 48-20 victory over Winnebago in a Class 3A opener, but fell the next week to Byron.
“Last season we made some really great memories and had a ton of fun, but the kids know we can’t rest on last year’s accomplishments,” Seneca third-year head coach Terry Maxwell said. “They have all kept working to get better, and that’s why last year’s team had the success it did.
“This group is still hungry. They know we can still reach a higher level, and they are putting in the time and effort to make that happen.”
Seneca will be part of the newly formed Chicagoland Prairie Conference with Dwight, Elmwood Park, Walther Christian, Ridgewood, Marquette, St. Bede and Westmont.
“We’re thrilled about the new conference and the fact that it allows us to not only retain our long rivalry with Dwight, but also adds games with Marquette and St. Bede,” Maxwell said. “Those are some great matchups for area fans to get excited about.”
Seneca’s deceptive power-T offensive attack, which scored a program-record 349 regular-season points, will again be under the direction of four-year starting QB Nathan Grant. The Times 2022 Football Player of the Year, Grant led the Fighting Irish with 943 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns while completing 19 of 36 passes for 417 yards and eight TDs.
When not running the ball himself, Grant will be handing the ball to what Maxwell says will be a “plug-and-play backfield with a good rotation of players.”
Senior three-year starter Asher Hamby (78 carries, 768 yards, 11 TDs),
Nate Othon (sr.), Sam Kleich (sr., injured in opening game and missed last season) and Nick Grant (jr.) will be at the halfback spots; while Nathen Neal (sr.), Sam Churchill (sr.) and Casey Klicker (jr.) will be fullbacks. Seneca ran for over 3,700 yards and averaged nearly 10 yards a carry last season.
Seniors Lane Provance and Kysen Klicker will be at the tight end spots — both are big, tall blockers and have great hands to catch the ball if needed — while juniors Sam Finch and Paxton Giertz (also the backup QB and kicker) will also see time on the end as well.
The offensive line returns seniors Alex Bogner-Kidwell (a guard last two
seasons, but will likely be at LT), Matt Dillon (third year at LG), Casey Clennon at C, all-stater Chris Peura at RG and Josh Lucas at RT, with Sullivan Feldt (jr.) and Landen Venecia (so.) filling in when needed.
Seneca’s 3-4 defense, which recorded five on-field shutouts to close out the regular season, will be led up front by Dillon, Lucas, Bogner and Venecia at the ends and Peura at nose tackle. The linebackers will be Provance and Kysen Klicker, as well as Kleich and Nick Grant on the outside, plus Clennon and Casey Klicker on the inside. Hamby and Nathan Grant will again hold down the safety spots, while Giertz, Othon, Neal and Kevin Einhaus will be at cornerback.
“The biggest thing we preach is that every player has to be able to do the simple things very well,” Maxwell said. “Whether it’s on offense or defense, each play everyone has a job to do, and we feel if everyone does that job, we’ll be in pretty good shape.
“We have players on this team, especially on offense, that are willing to do selfless things for the greater good of the team. It could be carrying out a fake 10 plays in a row without getting the ball or knowing you’re going to have to throw a block on an opponent bigger than yourself. Those are the ‘team first’ things that helped us have success last year, and it won’t change this year.”
This fall will be one of change for the St. Bede football team as the Bruins leave their long-time home in the Three Rivers Conference — previously the Big Rivers — to join the Chicagoland Prairie Conference.
“The biggest thing for me is we are losing Hall. They were a big rival for a long time,” junior lineman Jake Migliorini said. “But Marquette’s coming in now, and they’re our new rival. It’ll be very exciting to see some new teams and new competition and go to Chicago a couple times and play there. Our first game playing at a college field (against Tuscola in a nonconference game) is going to be fun.
“I think it’s just an exciting year. I don’t think it changes how we’re going to play. I think we’re going to come out and do the same things we always do. I think we’re going to be pretty good.”
Offensively, the Bruins have plenty of changes at the skill positions.
“I think the offense will be very good,” senior Hunter Savage said. “A lot of people are doubting us, but I’m not worried at all. I think we’ll do just fine.
“We have a couple good running backs on top of our good wide receivers and quarterback. I think overall, we’ll be pretty good. We’re going to have a really good run game.”
The Bruins lost two-year starting quarterback John Brady, who threw and ran for more than 1,000 yards last season, but replace him with 6-foot-3, 205-pound dual threat QB Max Bray, who transferred in from Aurora Christian.
Bray threw for 3,747 yards and 40 touchdowns and rushed for 716 yards and 11 TDs over the last two seasons
while leading the Eagles to an 11-9 record and two playoff appearances.
Savage and fellow seniors Seth Ferrari and Evan Entrican will be Bray’s top targets, while Eustice said the Bruins will have “a lot of young kids filling in.”
Juniors Halden Hueneburg and Grady Gillan will play running back.
The offense will operate behind an experienced offensive line that lost just one starter in Ryan Migliorini.
Jake Migliorini and Mason Moreno will be the tackles, while Gavin Hahn, Joe Bima, Garrett Connelly and Mateo Pullara, a transfer from Minooka, will be in the mix at guard. Hahn was the team’s center last year and could be in that role again, while Pullara could also play center.
“Our O-line, we have everybody from last year coming back except one person, and we have a couple new kids coming in, and they’re filling up spots,” Migliorini said. “Our O-line is going to be really strong. We’ll give our new quarterback a lot of time in the pocket. We have a couple running backs stepping up this year.
“I think definitely our offense is where we’re going to dominate.”
Defensively, Sam Bima and several of the offensive linemen will see time on the defensive line. Migliorini could see time on the line or at linebacker.
“We should be able to rotate a lot of guys on the defensive line to keep them fresh,” Eustice said.
Gillan and Ferrari will lead the linebackers. Gillan is the team’s top returning tackler from a year ago, as he made 37 stops. Entrican, Hueneburg and Logan Pineda also will contribute at linebacker.
In the secondary, Bray and Savage will be key contributors.
“I really think we go stop every run game that comes at us,” Migliorini said. “We have three really good inside linebackers. They’re just hard-hitting kids. Our D-line is pretty strong. We have three big guys up there, and our corners are really fast. Hopefully, they can lock up the receivers. I think our D-line is going to crash hard and not give the quarterback much time, and the linebackers are going to come through on the run plays. I don’t think anybody is going to get through us.”
On special teams, Ryan Solimin will be the kicker. Solimin or Alex Ankiewicz will handle punting duties.
Hueneburg, Ankiewicz and Savage are in the mix to return punts and kicks.
Despite the changes this season, the Bruins look to continue their recent run of success that includes a 5-1 mark in the spring of 2021 followed by 8-3 and 7-3 seasons the last two years.
“We’ve had a pretty good run here these last three years,” Eustice said. “This group of seniors, they saw it all. This group wants to continue that. When we go into a game, we expect to win every game. We really do. We’re not gonna be afraid of any of our opponents.
“We’re just going to go week to week and one day at a time and have fun and enjoy the journey.”
