Scouting: Cary-Grove at St. Charles East

By Dave Oberhelman

Cary-Grove

at St. Charles East

Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Last year: Did not play.

Outlook: The following emailed statement by St. Charles East coach Mike Fields says it all: “Gulp.” That’s because Cary-Grove, a first-time opener for the Saints after facing Carmel last season, returns 10 defensive starters from an 8-4 team that last year allowed an average of 14.3 points a game. Former Trojans coach Bruce Kay, an Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Famer, retired after 22 seasons that included the 2009 Class 6A title. Like new coach Brad Seaburg said, Kay left the program in good shape. Linebacker Sam Babick may be a little small, at 172 pounds, but he gets to the football. Babick made 60 tackles and assisted on 33 others last season, also causing 5 fumbles. “With this defense, we should be in every game,” Seaburg said. The Trojans, who begin the season tied for fourth in the 6A poll, also will challenge St. Charles East’s run defense. Out of the flexbone option, returning back Patrick O’Malley ran for 953 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2010, and his partner, Ryan Mahoney, added 876 yards and 12 touchdowns. Quarterback Corey Latkas ran for 424 yards and 8 scores. Fortunately, St. Charles East has some stout defensive returners. Returning Upstate Eight River all-conference linebacker Joe Hoscheit, defensive back Tim Leibforth and linebacker Jake Sheley lead the way for a defense that, after getting the season-opening 56-7 loss to Carmel out of the way, allowed no more than Geneva’s 30 points in any one game. But aside from a 45-point explosion against Streamwood, the Saints were generally held to three touchdowns or less. That was to be expected due to the injuries that saddled the team last year. Now one of the injured quarterbacks, big Dean Bowen, enters the season fresh and will throw to Charlie Fisher, last year’s starting quarterback who went down in Week 2. The Saints have to find a way, through misdirection or otherwise, to minimize Cary-Grove’s speed, or rule the line of scrimmage and let Hosheit, also a fullback, run roughshod. If this turns out to be a close one, Fields has confidence in kicker Danny Muzzalupo.

Next week: Cary Grove at Lake Zurich, Sept. 2; St. Charles East at West Aurora, Sept. 2.