Another option for Glenbard West

The rich are about to get richer.

Glenbard West’s vaunted running game will receive a boost in Saturday’s West Suburban Silver football matchup against Hinsdale Central with the return of explosive junior Kendall Johnson, who missed the season’s first three games.

Johnson, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound running back who rushed for 700 yards last season, figures to contribute in the ground game, the passing game and on special teams.

“He’s really a special talent,” said Hilltoppers coach Chad Hetlet. “Kendall is unreal with his game-breaking ability.”

Behind a line anchored by Johnny Caspers and Nick Garland, Glenbard West (3-0, 1-0) already dominates defenses with its running game. Avery Balogh, who has 414 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns, and the Hilltoppers average nearly 300 rushing yards per game.

Joey Zito, Deon Dumas, quarterback Justice Odom and others add to the attack. With Johnson in the mix, Glenbard West’s backfield is deeper and much more dangerous.

“Avery’s been carrying the load for us, but with Kendall back he’ll be able to give us another threat,” Hetlet said. “It just adds to our options on offense.”

Joecat:Chris Andriano has coached seven Borsellinos since he took over the Montini football program in 1974: Anthony, Johnny, Joseph, Lewis, Michael and two Joeys. Of all of them, only junior receiver Joey Borsellino, son of the Broncos#146; offensive coordinator, has ever acted as quarterback, which he did last week in Montini#146;s 13-6 win over Marmion.#147;It feels pretty good,#148; said the 5-foot-10, 170-pounder. #147;There#146;s been a lot of Borsellinos. The first one to play quarterback, it#146;s a pretty big honor for me.#148;Because fellow junior Mark Gorogianis was and remains the Broncos#146; starting quarterback until John Rhode returns from a broken thumb #8212; anticipated for the Week 6 game against St. Francis #8212; Borsellino subbed several times in the shotgun against Marmion. Technically it#146;s known as a #147;Wildcat#148; formation, but with Borsellino it was dubbed #147;Joecat.#148; Montini had practiced the formation the week of the game.#147;We took reps in it and I#146;ve been doing it, but I wasn#146;t expecting to use it in this game,#148; he said. #147;I#146;m glad we did.#148;The strategy helped set up both Montini touchdowns. Borsellino ran 7 yards on fourth-and-1 to set up Gorogianis#146; 1-yard sneak, and he later broke a 48-yarder on the Broncos#146; winning touchdown drive. He was in the #147;Joecat#148; handing off to Jordan Westerkamp on the 4-yard end around that was the game-winning touchdown.#147;Joey#146;s a winner,#148; Andriano said. #147;I told him: He#146;s another kid I#146;d jump in a foxhole with if the going gets tough.#148;Marian Central can probably expect to defend the Joecat at some point in Friday#146;s game.#147;When you#146;re playing with one quarterback, you#146;ve got to have it ready, so I wouldn#146;t doubt it,#148; Montini coach Chris Andriano said. #147;It#146;s in the game plan.#148;Growing pains:Faced with a brutal schedule in the East Suburban Catholic Conference, Benet (0-3, 0-3) hasn#146;t had much to cheer about this season.The Redwings, though, are keeping their collective heads up.#147;Usually the coach of an 0-3 team is going to gripe a lot,#148; coach Pat New said. #147;But I love this team. I like the attitude, we play hard.#148;Losses to Nazareth, Marian Catholic and St. Patrick lead up to this week#146;s game against Marist. The defeats have taken a physical toll, especially to Benet#146;s depleted offensive and defensive lines. Phil Cannizzaro is out for the season with a torn finger tendon, and Quinn McCracken will miss three weeks due to injury.Inexperienced Benet, which plays eight juniors and a sophomore on defense, will have to deal with even more inexperience. Not exactly the best situation with ESCC games looming against state-ranked Joliet Catholic and Carmel.#147;It definitely tests you but you just have to keep working hard,#148; New said. The learning curve:Coming off a 2009 playoff season and a 5-4 mark last year, Wheaton Academy now finds itself 0-3 heading into its second game in the grueling Suburban Catholic Conference Blue Division against St. Francis.The start doesn#146;t surprise Warriors coach Ben Wilson.#147;I guess you can#146;t expect a whole lot when you#146;ve got 11 new starters on offense and only three of those 11 are seniors,#148; he said. #147;We#146;re young and we#146;re hoping to grow up each week.#148;He cited offensive linemen Taylor Johnson and Connor Kramer, a pair of sophomores who last week went up against St. Edward Division I recruit Evan Finnane.#147;They#146;re not doing a bad job,#148; Wilson said of his youngsters, #147;but when you put them against Finnane ... Finnane#146;s going to do real well.#148;Outside linebacker Trey Spurgeon is one of the Warriors#146; few seniors. The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder, who also starts at right offensive tackle after converting from tight end, leads Wheaton Academy in tackles and made 16 last week against St. Ed#146;s. Right behind Spurgeon is 2010 tackles leader, junior linebacker Peter Ferrill.#147;He#146;s an example of a guy who#146;s really starting for the first time on varsity, but he#146;s going both ways and doing well for us,#148; Wilson said of Spurgeon.Wilson notes the character that typifies the Wheaton Academy student-athlete.#147;The positives are the kids really like being together,#148; he said. #147;The positives are everyone#146;s got a positive attitude.#147;We#146;ll just try to get better every day, get better every game. That#146;s all we can really ask for.#148;Points taken:Fenton#146;s schedule has become pretty interesting. None of the Bison#146;s first six opponents have a win through three weeks #8212; a combined record of 0-18 including Springfield Southeast, this weekend#146;s opponent. With its entire schedule boasting only four wins, Fenton (3-0) has the fewest number of playoff points in the state. If the Bison end up on the playoff bubble with a 5-4 record, they#146;ll have a tough time reaching the postseason. Five wins, however, is not even a consideration for Fenton.#147;Our sights aren#146;t set on five wins,#148; said Bison coach Mark Kos. #147;Our next goal is to win the (Metro Suburban Conference) and host a playoff game. We just need to take care of business ourselves and we won#146;t have to worry about playoff points.#148;#145;Out-of-body experience#146;:That was a comment by Waubonsie Valley coach Paul Murphy, baffled at the sudden loss of offensive line technique in the Warriors#146; 27-20 loss to Bartlett. The Hawks, who led 20-0, are physical enough to fluster folks. They slammed Waubonsie quarterback Mitch Stefani to the ground, breaking the senior#146;s collarbone and knocking him out from four to six weeks, Murphy said.Still, Murphy was perplexed by the lack of solid form the line used against Bartlett which had been evident in the first two games.#147;We wanted to know what aliens invaded their bodies,#148; he quipped.