Scouting Week 1 in the Tri-Cities

By Dave Oberhelman

doberhelman@dailyherald.com

Batavia at Glenbard North

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

Last year: Did not play.

Outlook: This opener is a step up in class for Batavia but it’s a meeting that just seems natural. The Bulldogs graduated loads of talent off its 12-1 Class 6A semifinalist but returns a lot. Glenbard North, which enters tied with Maine South at the No. 3 spot in the preseason Associated Press 8A poll, came out of the superlative DuPage Valley Conference with a 6-3 record then advanced to the semifinals to lose to state runner-up Loyola. Though the Panthers spy a DVC title, of this nonconference battle coach Ryan Wilkens has said: “There’s no way I’m looking past that.” Both these teams hit, hard, and also offer speed that will be enhanced on Glenbard North’s turf. As an example of their toughness, returning Glenbard North starting quarterback Brian Murphy, who ran for 464 out of his nearly 1,300 total yards, has committed to Michigan — to wrestle. The Panthers offer three returning starting offensive linemen including 6-foot-3, 285-pound D’Angelo Hodges, which will help junior Justin Jackson improve upon his sophomore numbers of 741 yards and 11 touchdowns. Jackson already has offers from Illinois, Northwestern, Boston College and Purdue. Murphy, who directed Glenbard North to runner-up at the Wheaton Warrenville South, has returning receiver Ryan Storto to target. The interesting thing about that 7-on-7 at WW South is Batavia went 4-1-1 there and lost to ... Glenbard North. “One of our toughest games is our opener,” Batavia coach Dennis Piron said. Though Glenbard North will primarily look to run the football, should Murphy drop back he’ll likely meet Batavia’s Marquise Jenkins, the fastest lineman at West Aurora’s Battle of the Big Butts and who had 30 quarterback hurries as a junior. Much already has been written about the battle for Batavia’s starting quarterback position between last season’s backup, senior Dan Albrecht, and incoming junior Micah Coffey, who led the Bulldogs sophomores to a 9-0 record. Piron has said the competition may be evaluated even into the season — and this game against one of the area’s top teams will give Piron and offensive coordinator Mike Gaspari much to work with in making future considerations.

Next week: Plainfield East at Batavia, Aug. 31; Glenbard North at Carmel, Aug. 31.

Oswego at Geneva

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

Last year: Did not play.

Outlook: It’s always a community affair at Burgess Field, but this season opener should draw an even bigger buzz given that it’s the first varsity football game to be played on the new artificial surface that was completed at Burgess earlier this month. Though Geneva coach Rob Wicinski always cautioned about the speed of former Week 1 foe Rock Island, he’s convinced Oswego’s spread offense will likewise field a bunch of track athletes. “Our field fits right into their personality, so that’s a good thing, it fits right into their strength,” he said jokingly. Under former coach Dave Keely the Panthers bounced back from a 4-5 record in 2010 to go 8-3 and advance into the second round of the Class 7A playoffs. Oswego won the Southwest Prairie Conference unmarred at 7-0, but went only 1-3 outside of the league with losses to Week 1-2 losses to Marian Central and Waubonsie Valley and the season-ending 41-0 loss to East St. Louis. Brian Cooney assumes the controls this season. His Panthers have the potential to withstand a pass rush with linemen such as 290-pound Andy Salazar, 270-pound Adam Feltz and 270-pound junior Adam Krauss, among others. Wicinski isolated returning linebacker-tight end Chad Burdo, 6-2, 235, as one to watch out for. Cooney and his staff will have a more difficult time deciding who to key on for the Vikings considering this is essentially an all-new cast. With Bobby Hess probably more likely to bounce outside the mayhem rather than follow the former between-the-tackles paths of backs past such as Michael Ratay and Connor Quinn — and with Jeremy Hanson and T.J. Miller listed on Geneva’s depth chart as its top two kick returners, a 2011 Hess specialty — this will be a feeling-out process for both sides.

Next week: Waubonsie Valley at Oswego, Aug. 31; Geneva at Wheaton North, Aug. 31.

St. Charles East at Cary-Grove

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

Last year: Cary-Grove 28, SCE 0.

Outlook: It cannot be said that St. Charles East and coach Mike Fields shirk a challenge. Fairly successful through the mid-1990s, since 1997 and especially since 2004 Cary-Grove has fairly exploded. Under first the retired Illinois High School Football Coaches Association hall of famer Bruce Kay and now under second-year coach Brad Seaburg the Trojans have eight straight playoff appearances with a Class 6A title in 2009 and 6A runner-up in 2004. Though last year’s squad “only” reached the second round in 6A, it was good enough to beat 6A champion Prairie Ridge in regular-season Fox Valley Conference play. “If we want to be as good as some of these more successful programs,” Fields said, “we’ve got to play them.” Be careful what you ask for, which in the case of Cary-Grove’s triple-option offense is returning starting quarterback Quinn Baker. Including his 51 yards rushing last season against the Saints, as a junior Baker carried 179 times for 1,104 yards and 6.2 yards average per carry, with 18 touchdowns. Against Cary-Grove’s 3-3-5 defense, returning fullback Joe Hoscheit ran 2 times for 6 yards, before a separated shoulder ended his success, while Erik Anderson ran for 10 yards on 4 carries. Perhaps with Saints Nick Asquini and Tommy Wilson back starting on the offensive line those numbers will improve, since Cary-Grove safety Zach Marszal is the only Trojan to have started in all 11 games last season. Still, Cary-Grove — which enters the season ranked No. 10 in The Associated Press’ Class 7A poll — has been reloading every year. “We’re very respectful of them, we know what they can do and what they’re capable of doing, and we’re hoping to be there at the end,” Fields said.

Next week: West Aurora at St. Charles East, Aug. 31; Lake Zurich at Cary-Grove, Aug. 31.

St. Charles North at Hinsdale Central

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

Last year: Hinsdale Central 27, St. Charles North 26 (OT).

Outlook: Most assuredly St. Charles North coach Mark Gould, who is kicking off his last season as the North Stars head coach before retirement, would not want to relive this game. His club was whistled for 100 yards worth of penalties ... Hinsdale Central recovered a fumble in the Stars’ end zone for a touchdown ... what could have been a game-ending touchdown drive ended with a last-second interception ... finally, with the Stars’ kicker out injured and down by a point in OT, Gould had to go for 2 and that scramble was stopped. This year? Even though Hinsdale Central comes off a 6-4 playoff season to receive votes in The Associated Press Class 8A Poll, the feeling is this North Stars’ team is better. Running back George Edlund, who hit the Red Devils with 50 yards and the scored in overtime last year, will run behind a more experienced, wiser offensive line. In his support he’s got Evan Kurtz, who is really high on Gould’s list right now: “He’s got that mentality, he’s pretty tough.” The defense brings back a guy like Matt Pretet, who didn’t play football last year, to the defensive line; you’ve got to be an athlete to do that. And Hinsdale Central won’t have a great look at the North Stars’ new spread offense. What the Red Devils do have is returning quarterback Brian Owens, who threw for 1,843 yards and ran for 274 more (not counting the 4-yarder that beat St. Charles North in overtime), behind a line that averages 275 pounds anchored by center Brian Allen, with multiple Big Ten offers. Hinsdale Central also returns 6-foot-6 receiver in Ian Bunting, who has an offer from Purdue. Like last year’s opener foreshadowed a disappointing 2011 season for the North Stars, this one could start an entirely different story, but if not, Hinsdale Central is a quality foe.

Next week: St. Charles North at Plainfield Central, Aug. 31; Hinsdale Central at Leyden, Aug. 31.

Pontiac at Aurora Central Catholic

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

Last year: Did not play.

Outlook: ACC saw its Week 1-2 contracts with both Rockford Lutheran and Marengo end after last season. This opening foe is a good pickup for the Chargers, as Pontiac is a traditional power out of the strong Corn Belt Conference with 17 playoff appearances in its history including the 1993 Class 3A title and a 2002 4A runner-up finish. After a 2010 playoff berth, however, the Indians’ record slipped to 4-5 last season, same as Aurora Central Catholic. Both squads suffered a similar slip, Pontiac losing five of its last six games and ACC four of five. Pontiac has won both games in its brief history with Aurora Central Catholic. Chargers coach Brian Casey expects to see either a Wing-T or Spread offense from the Indians, but with Pontiac featuring a new offensive coordinator to help coach David Young, he admits it’s “up for grabs.” According to the Pantagraph, Pontiac quarterback Alex Friedman was a starting tight end last season, but a season-ending injury to its quarterback hastened Friedman’s move to the position. Friedman enjoys the return of four offensive linemen with starting experience, but ACC counters with perhaps its greatest concentration of strength, its defensive front eight offering returning starting linemen Izzy Rosa and Jake McCarthy, and linebackers Cody Ekstrom, Jacob Holzer and Steve Belovich, like Rosa a program mainstay. Offensively the Chargers will see the varsity starting debut of senior quarterback Drake Riedy, whose completion percentage of 45.4 was greater than last year’s starter, Kyle Clechenko. He’s got a strong arm, can make all the throws, Casey said, and in this double-wing set more dedication to the pass would do wonders for the health of running backs Brian Bohr and Steven Amoni. Casey believes his squad will have the speed advantage over Pontiac but the bottom line remains the same — the Chargers can’t turn the ball over.

Next week: Stanford-Olympia at Pontiac, Aug. 31; Aurora Central Catholic at Oostburg (Wis.), Sept. 1.

Jacobs at Marmion

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

Last year: Did not play.

Outlook: Just another in a series of grueling nonconference foes for Marmion. The Cadets don’t have Batavia, but Jacobs is no walk in the park. The Golden Eagles have been renewed by the arrival of longtime Stevenson coach Bill Mitz, an Illinois High School Football Coaches Association hall of famer, Class of 2002. Now in his third season in Algonquin, in 2010 Mitz took what had been a 2-7 squad to playoff seasons of 6-4 and 7-3. Jacobs has gained respect, even earning a vote in The Associated Press’ preseason Class 7A Poll. That’s all fine and dandy, but what really concerns Marmion coach Dan Thorpe are the nine returning defensive starters off a unit that held foes to 16.9 points and 248 yards a game. Anchoring Jacobs’ defense is third-year defensive end Adam Kulon, a Toledo recruit. Last season the 6-foot-4, 240-pound senior made 67 tackles, 7 for loss, with 4 sacks. The two-way starter also played offensive tackle for a unit that averaged 389 yards per game. Add returning nose guard Tim Regan (6-3, 220) and tackle David Woloszyn (5-9, 230) and that’s a handful. The good news is on a team light on experience, the Cadets have two good returning starters on the line in Kevin Lin and Matt Smith, who go 260 and 230, respectively. “Our offense will really have to step up,” Thorpe said. Jacobs’ experience dims on the other side of the ball, having graduated a 1,200-yard rusher and its starting quarterback. Mitz has said, though, that junior quarterback Brett Mooney had the ability to play on varsity last year, but wasn’t going to supplant the incumbent. If Mooney can escape the Marmion pass rush of outside linebacker Charlie Clohecy and friends, he’s got a top returning wideout: Jake Gierlak with 34 receptions for 715 yards and 6 touchdowns a year ago.

Next week: Johnsburg at Jacobs, Aug. 31; Marmion at Fenwick, Sept. 1.

DuSable at Aurora Christian

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday.

Last year: Did not play.

Outlook: Aurora Christian is the defending Class 3A state champion, opens the season atop The Associated Press’ Class 3A Poll and DuSable visits from the much-maligned Chicago Public League but there is, of course, no way Eagles coach Don Beebe is looking past this Week 1 foe. He cites that DuSable went 8-1 two seasons ago. Last year the Panthers were 7-2 overall and 5-2 in the CPL’s Second City Conference; they’re now playing in the CPL’s Windy City league. “We must keep their quarterback in the pocket as he will flee the pocket to use his speed,” Beebe said. Thus, while Aurora Christian defensive linemen Josh Kok, Jonah Walker and Nick Larson hold up their men, Eagles outside linebackers Brandon Walgren and Ryan Suttle — each returning starters — must make quick decisions on run versus pass. And while Aurora Christian returns much experience, this will be the first varsity game for both cornerbacks, juniors Legend Smith and M.J. Zepeda. Friday also is the starting debut, at least on the offensive side of the ball, for two players pivotal to Aurora Christian’s success this season, quarterback Ryan McQuade and running back-linebacker Joel Bouagnon. The latter is the Northern Illinois University-bound all-state transfer from Burlington Central, that team’s three-time MVP whose transfer was approved Tuesday. Bouagnon is a proven commodity. McQuade, who did start defensively last season for the Eagles, backed up quarterback Anthony Maddie last year and therefore saw hardly any action behind center. He’ll need to diagnose DuSable’s 4-3 and 4-4 defenses and be on the lookout for blitzes by the Panthers’ array of athletes. This will be a challenge but nothing the 6-foot-4 McQuade should be rattled by, experiencing varsity pressure in both football and basketball and, as Beebe said, earning the starting quarterback slot based on his leadership and football smarts.

Next week: DuSable at Foreman, Sept. 3; Aurora C. at St. Edward, Aug. 31.

Kaneland at Brooks

Game time: 4:15 p.m. Saturday, Gately Stadium, Chicago.

Last year: Kaneland 44, Brooks 0.

Outlook: Kaneland coach Tom Fedderly said “Edgy” Tim O’Halloran of Rivals.com said Brooks may be a “surprise” group this year, but it would truly be a surprise if coach James Brown’s Eagles were to compete on Saturday, based on who Kaneland returns and what happened in the 2011 opener. Kaneland led 41-0 with 27 seconds left before halftime, getting a 67-yard Drew David touchdown pass to the graduated Quinn Buschbacher 22 seconds into the game and rolling from there. David tuned up for with 14-of-20 passing for 203 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception. Fedderly warned that especially on the Gately Stadium carpet the Knights’ 3-5 defense must get up to game speed against Brooks’ fast athletes including a fourth-year starting quarterback, Ahmad Bradshaw. Last year Bradshaw completed 9-of-25 passes for 159 yards with an interception, and eventually led his squad to the playoffs, 5-5 overall with a 4-1 mark and second place in the Chicago Public League’s Illini-Heartland Conference. Kaneland, coming off a second straight state semifinal appearance, enters 2012 ranked No. 5 in The Associated Press preseason Class 6A Poll. This game will serve as a varsity opener for the few number of players who didn’t start last year for the Knights, such as new defensive linemen Justin Diddell and 325-pound Jaumaureo Phillips. This also will give returning receivers Kyle Pollastrini and Zach Martinez more reps as Kaneland’s go-to guys, while Dylan Nauert, who started last year at linebacker and now will head to receiver as well, gets Fedderly’s tab as “this year’s Sean Carter” — who caught 8 passes for 80 yards and a score last year against Brooks.

Next week: Kaneland at Huntley, Aug. 31; Brooks at Kenwood, Aug. 30.