Lake Zurich’s focus: excellence fulfillment

A return trip to Champaign would seem to be the primary focus.

And why wouldn’t it be for Lake Zurich considering the Bears boast state medaling-winning track speed, football talent that includes a Division I-bound linebacker and speedy transfer, and a new assistant coach who’s won a trio of state championships?

The truth, however, might chagrin some lovers of Lake Zurich football who might be spoiled by excellence.

“I don’t mean to offend them when I say this,” coach Bryan Stortz said. “But, really, the state championship is not the ultimate goal to me. The ultimate goal is to become the best football team that we can possibly become.

“If you look at it from that angle, you can win a state championship in the process. You can win a conference championship in the process. But if that is your only measuring stick, you can miss so many things.”

Stortz’s program has enjoyed successes large and small in recent years. The Bears’ second-place finish to Wheaton Warrenville South in Class 7A last fall marked their third trip to state in five years, a run that includes winning it all in 2007.

While the Bears lost running back Jacob Brinlee (Fork Union Prep), who graduated as the school’s all-time leading rusher with 3,487 yards, including 1,703 and 14 touchdowns last year, there’s still plenty of skill.

The returnees include all-area quarterback Zach Till, Minnesota-bound linebacker Jack Lynn and brothers Mike (running back) and Chris (free safety) Rantis, both of whom ran on the Bears’ fourth-place 1,600-meter relay at state.

The additions include junior running back Connor Schrader (another track guy), who transferred from downstate Dunlap (Stortz’s alma mater).

“He’s been a pleasant surprise for us,” Stortz said. “In practice, he’s done nice things.”

The biggest addition might be a guy who also attended another school last year. Brent Pearlman, who coached Prospect to Class 7A state titles in 2001, 2002 and 2005, will serve as Stortz’s offensive coordinator.

Pearlman, who stepped down at Prospect following last season, should help a passing offense that saw Till throw for just 718 yards (52 of 99) last year.

“I think if you were to profile Lake Zurich in the past, yeah, we played great defense and we could run the football, but we weren’t a great throwing team, at all,” Stortz said. “I think for us to maybe take the next jump, we need to be able to throw the ball more consistently.”

The new pass-happy Bears?

Not quite.

“I’m not saying we’re going to throw it around 25 times a game,” Stortz said. “But we’re going to get better in the areas that I feel that we’ve been deficient at, and I think (the passing game) is an area where Brent does an outstanding job.”

Till, whose exceptional athleticism made him a standout cornerback on varsity as a sophomore, provides Pearlman a player with versatility. Till rushed for 433 yards and 8 touchdowns last year, while also playing some defense again.

Besides Mike Rantis and Schrader, the Bears’ running backs include returning starter Mike Shield. Lynn is back at wide receiver, too, while the offensive line is totally revamped due to graduation.

“We may be throwing the ball only 12 times (per game),” Stortz said. “But if we can run the ball like we have, and effectively and efficiently throw the ball 12 times, I think we have to be a tougher offense to defend.”

The Bears, who posted 4 shutouts last year, should be formidable defensively again with their 3-5 scheme. Three-year starter Lynn and Chris Rantis lead a returning group that also includes senior tackle William Hussy, senior linebacker Taylor Coleman and junior corner Grant Soucy.

Probable starters

OFFENSE

Pos. Name Ht/Wt Yr.

WR Jack Lynn 6-3/215 Sr.

LT Jimmy Bohn 6-3/215 Sr.

LG Jack Sweeney 6-2/205 Jr.

C Jerry Bauer 6-1/224 Jr.

RG Matt Schirmann 6-1/225 Jr.

RT Vince DiVencenzo 5-8/210 Jr.

or RT Adam Cantwell 6-1/215 Sr.

or RT Mark Weber 6-0/185 Sr.

QB Zach Till 5-11/170 Sr.

RB Mike Shield 5-11/175 Sr.

RB Connor Schrader 5-10/195 Jr.

RB Mike Rantis 6-0/170 Sr.

WR Steven Kuhn 6-4/200 Sr.

or WR Brandon Markert 6-1/170 Sr.

or WR Steven Walcott 6-1/175 Jr.

DEFENSE

Pos. Name Ht/Wt Yr.

DE Evan Williams 6-2/200 Sr.

DT William Hussey 5-8/175 Sr.

DE Rocky Triggiano 6-1/220 Jr.

or DE Christopher Lehtinen 5-10/195 So.

LB Mike Shield 5-11/175 Sr.

LB Jack Lynn 6-3/215 Sr.

LB Colton Moskal 6-0/205 So.

or LB Robert Rossdeutcher 5-9/155 Jr.

LB Taylor Coleman 6-0/200 Sr.

LB Blake Moskal 5-10/150 Sr.

CB Sean Lynch 5-8/155 So.

FS Chris Rantis 5-10/160 Sr.

CB Grant Soucy 5-11/165 Jr.