Football: Scouting Week 1, Lake County
Maine South at Warren
When: 7:30 p.m., today
2011 records: Maine South (10-1); Warren (3-6)
Last year’s result: Maine South def. Warren, 40-12.
Skinny: Hopefully, the bleachers at Warren are comfy. This could be a long game as both Maine South and Warren will likely take to the air early and often. Maine South has long been a pass-happy team and boasts prolific quarterback Matt Alviti, who has already committed to Northwestern. Meanwhile, Warren quarterback Adam Reuss did very well in the first year of a new spread offense last season. He passed for nearly 1,500 yards as well as 17 touchdowns … Warren has been playing Maine South since 2003 and has only a couple of wins to its credit, but head coach Dave Mohapp loves the series. “It’s a tough matchup early in the season, but playing a team like Maine South makes you better,” Mohapp said. “In the early years, we really struggled against Maine South. But that forced us to think outside the box and I think we’ve gotten better in this game over the years.”
— Patricia Babcock McGraw
Fremd at Lake Zurich
When: 7:30 p.m., today
2011 records: Fremd (4-5); Lake Zurich (10-3)
Last year’s result: Lake Zurich def. Fremd, 35-3.
Skinny: Last year, Fremd featured a lot of new players. This year, it’s a new head coach. Lou Sponsel inherits a relatively full cupboard from the now retired Mike Donatucci, who played plenty of underclassman last season. They took their lumps in a 4-5 campaign that was atypical for Fremd, but the upside is that those younger players are now all older and experienced. “It was a dogfight last year with Fremd and it slipped away from them in the end mostly because they had so many (inexperienced) sophomores and juniors playing,” Lake Zurich assistant coach Shane Williams said. “They were really young last year and are returning a lot of those players so they’ll be tough.” Williams is helping out Lake Zurich head coach Dave Proffitt, who is also new this season. Proffitt, who took over when Bryan Stortz left for a new job, inherits a Lake Zurich team that lost most of its skill position players from its run to the semifinals in 2011. Linemen Jerry Bauer and Matt Schirmann are the only full-time returning starters on offense.
— Patricia Babcock McGraw
Libertyville at Barrington
When: 7:30 p.m., today
2011 records: Libertyville (5-5); Barrington (7-3)
Last year’s result: Libertyville def. Barrington, 23-20 in overtime.
Skinny: It was a thriller the last time these two teams met up. Barrington scored right at the end of regulation to force overtime and Libertyville went for the win in overtime on a fourth down. “It was a very competitive game,” said Libertyville coach Mike Jones, who was the Wildcats’ defensive coordinator last year and replaced longtime head coach Randy Kuceyeski, who retired at the end of last season. “This is always a good game for both sides because it’s such a challenge. Barrington is going to be big and physical, like always.” Barrington features 6-foot-7, 290-pound offensive lineman Jack Keeler, who has committed to Wisconsin. He’ll pave the way for running back Justin Dragosz. Libertyville will also do plenty of running in its return to the Wing-T offense that it was known for during much of Kuceyeski’s tenure. Speedy runners Brian Swift, Connor Simpson and Austin Williams are all returning starters for the Wildcats.
— Patricia Babcock McGraw
Lyons at Stevenson
When: 7:30 p.m., today
2011 records: Lyons (7-5); Stevenson (9-3)
Last year’s result: Lyons def. Stevenson, 24-19.
Skinny: It was no mystery why Stevenson came up on the short end last season against Lyons. “We just gave the ball away,” Stevenson coach Bill McNamara said. “We turned the ball over six times. We had too many miscues, even a blocked punt. You can’t give a great team like Lyons even more opportunities than they’re going to get anyway.” Overall, McNamara liked the defensive game plan his team had last year against Lyons, but that unit will be missing its talented core. Carl Miller (Air Force), Jon Way (Washington University) and Dom Bickus (Kansas) are all playing in college this season. Offensively, the Patriots also feature some new blood with sophomore quarterbacks Willie Bourban and Jimmy Marchese both likely to get some snaps. Receivers Anthony Bozin, Cameron Green and Matt Morrissey, along with running back Danny Nowak, balance the new quarterbacks with some veteran experience.
— Patricia Babcock McGraw
Mundelein at Wheeling
When: 7:30 p.m., today
2011 records: Mundelein (0-9); Wheeling (2-7)
Last year’s result: Wheeling def. Mundelein, 29-20.
Skinny: With two new head coaches, which is the case with Mundelein and Wheeling, this game should feature one surprise after another. But that likely won’t be the case. Mundelein’s George Kaider and Wheeling’s Brent Pearlman are good friends. And in the spirit of friendship, Kaider and Pearlman did each other a favor they thought would make life easier for a couple of first-year coaches who are trying to turn their respective programs around. “We invited (Wheeling) to come watch one of our practices, and they invited us to come watch one of theirs,” Kaider said. “Brent and I are good friends and we’re both in the same situation and we want both of our teams to experience success and I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a four-quarter game in which both teams are really going at it. His kids are excited and I know they won’t quit and they’ll play physical, hard-hitting sound football. Our kids will be the exact same way.” Mundelein doesn’t return any starters on offense and will start freshman quarterback Gavin Graves.
— Patricia Babcock McGraw
Round Lake at Grayslake Central
When: 7:15 p.m., today
2011 records: Round Lake (1-8); Grayslake Central (7-3)
Last year’s result: Grayslake Central def. Round Lake, 47-6.
Skinny: It was a tale of two seasons for Grayslake Central and Round Lake last year, starting with the result in their head-to-head matchup in the season opener and ending with their final records. History is often used to predict the future, but Grayslake Central isn’t going there. The Rams have changed too much to make any assumptions at this point. They lost all but two offensive starters (both linemen) and only three defensive starters return. On top of that, Grayslake Central is under the direction of new coach Ben Ault, who was promoted from within to take over for Nick Goshe. “We were lucky last year to jump on Round Lake early in the first half, because they played us hard for pretty much the whole game,” Ault said. “We expect it to be another really tough game.” Expect Grayslake Central to run an option offense that features newcomers Connor Daly, Ted McGraw and Jourden Swopes. ... Round Lake graduated its top two players — QB/DE Anthony Burton and RB/LB Daniel Vega — from last season’s squad. Junior John Ridley takes over at QB, and his weapons will include sophomore RB Chris Perry and WRs Steven Handy and Tyler Hernandez. The defense will count on veterans Zach Williamson, Anthony Youngberg and Daniel Cleveland and Texas-transfer Freddy Araiza. The Panthers know they’ll have their hands full with the Rams. “It’s a big test for us,” RL coach John Coursey said. “(We need to) come out, be competitive, get a couple of first downs, play a little bit on defense. That’s our whole goal. We got small goals. Small little victories.”
— Patricia Babcock McGraw/Joe Aguilar
Lakes at Grayslake North
When: 7:15 p.m., today
2011 records: Lakes (9-3); Grayslake North (4-5)
Last year’s result: Lakes def. Grayslake North, 16-7.
Skinny: Grayslake North is looking to finish the job this time. The Knights have played Lakes three times in the past and in each of the games, they had leads in the fourth quarter. And yet, Grayslake North has never managed to defeat Lakes. “This is a big game for our kids,” Grayslake North coach Steve Wood said. “Well over half of our school comes from the Lake Villa area. They go to elementary school and junior high with a lot of those Lakes kids and they know them well. Our guys also know that we’ve been real close to getting a win in this game. They want to win this time. We know it will be a challenge, though. Lakes has had a lot of success over the years, they are very well-coached and they do what they do very well.” Lakes will do a lot of running behind all-state running back Direll Clark. The Knights will counter with a high-octane passing attack fueled by veteran quarterback AJ Fish, who passed for 27 touchdowns and more than 2,100 yards in 2011. Lakes, which advanced to the state quarterfinals for the first time in its history last season, also returns TE/DE AJ Goggin (6-4, 215), OL Dillon Falotico (6-6, 300), LB Brandon Brumm (5-8, 175) and DB Levi Haymaker (6-0, 175).
— Patricia Babcock McGraw/Joe Aguilar
Carmel Catholic at Lincoln-Way East
When: 7:30 p.m., today
2011 records: Carmel Catholic (7-4); Lincoln-Way East (10-1)
Last year’s result: The teams did not play each other.
Skinny: Carmel loves an Opening Night challenge on the road. After visiting Joliet Catholic Academy to start last season — and losing a heartbreaker to the eventual Class 5A state runner-up — the Corsairs travel to Frankfort to take on a Griffins squad that went 10-1 last year, handed Class 8A champ Bolingbrook its only loss and won the Southwest Suburban Blue Division. All-state QB Blake Winkler (Illinois State) was one of 15 seniors who went on to play college football, but the returnees include Tom Fuessel (6-3,180). Fuessel was Winkler’s backup and a reserve wide receiver, as well, but he was offered a scholarship by Northern Illinois and gave the Huskies a verbal commitment. He’ll quarterback an offense that also includes junior lineman Nick Allegretti (6-4, 280). Linebacker Kyle Langenderfer (5-8, 150), a three-year varsity starter, returns on defense. Head coach Rob Zvonar is 102-26 in his 11 seasons since the school opened in 2001. ... Carmel graduated its entire starting backfield, a veteran group that included the school’s all-time leading rusher Jordan Kos (Winona State), Mike Panico (Northwestern) and QB Brian Brennan. The trio rushed for a combined 3,126 yards last season and scored 41 TDs. Senior Josh Walinski takes over the Corsairs’ option offense and his candidates to give the ball to include Tim Serio, Sean Brennan and Mitchell Zovnic. The defensive returnees include Brennan, Derrick McLean, Connor Lynde, Billy Dolan, Ryan Glogovsky, Jake Cochrane and Grant Stredler.
— Joe Aguilar
Grant at Johnsburg
When: 7:30 p.m., today
2011 records: Grant (7-4); Johnsburg (0-9)
Last year’s result: Grant def. Johnsburg, 42-0.
Skinny: Graduation took a toll on Grant’s defense, but it’s the offense that should be the story for the Bulldogs again this season. They boasted a trio of 1,000-yard rushers last year, and two are back. Kyle Whitman replaces Alex Villa at quarterback, and back for his junior season is the dynamic Jonathan Wells. The offensive line is big and experienced, featuring veterans Jared Lalanda, Luis Echeverria, Dan Haeffele and Tyler Reynolds. Junior Billy Sullivan is the veteran of the defense. He switches from defensive back to linebacker. ... Johnsburg should be fired up playing their first game under new head coach Mike Maloney. The 30-year-old Maloney, who was a lineman for Joliet Catholic and the University of Illinois, coached the last two seasons at Joliet Central.
— Joe Aguilar
Woodstock at Wauconda
When: 7:30 p.m., today
2011 records: Woodstock (2-7); Wauconda (2-7)
Last year’s result: Wauconda def. Woodstock, 36-14.
Skinny: Wauconda coach Dave Mills likes to throw the football, but he plans on senior running back David Starkey (6-1, 230) touching the ball 25 times a game. New starting QB Austin Swenson won’t hesitate throwing the ball to the sure-handed Starkey, who moved in from a military academy in Wisconsin last year but didn’t make his Wauconda football debut until Week 5. The Bulldogs have plenty of starters returning on both sides of the ball. The defense includes veterans Nate Magiera, Jake Exline, Keith Blomberg, David Lowe, Erik Fuller, Will Danner and Jack Weber. ... Woodstock returns QB Tyler Purkey and two-way lineman Kyle Woodall.
—Joe Aguilar
Chicago Dunbar at Vernon Hills
When: 7:30 p.m., today
2011 records: Chicago Dunbar (7-5); Vernon Hills (5-4)
Last year’s result: Vernon Hills def. Chicago Dunbar, 58-34.
Skinny: Vernon Hills debuts it new artificial turf at Rust-Oleum Field, and the home team hopes to be just as impressive. The Cougars dropped 58 points on the Mightymen last season, but never bettered that mark the rest of the season. The Cougars missed the playoffs for just the third time in school history last season and will be motivated by that rare miss. Senior Brett Peterson takes over at quarterback in VH’s triple-option attack. The returning running backs include Sam Maloof and Dylan McNamara. Returning all-conference lineman Drake Randall should be a force on both sides of the ball again this season.
— Joe Aguilar
Antioch at Lake Forest Academy
When: 1 p.m., Saturday
2011 records: Antioch (8-2); Lake Forest Academy (2-7)
Last year’s result: Antioch def. Lake Forest Academy, 14-12.
Skinny: Antioch had its hands full last season with the Caxys, who boasted Iowa-bound lineman Faith Ekakitie, who was from Canada. LFA has another Canadian this season in 6-4, 285-pound Wesley Annan. Robin Bowkett takes over as head coach and has tabbed junior Chris Karamanos as his starting quarterback. Antioch also has a new starting QB in athletic sophomore Alan Taylor. Senior Austin Klotter returns in the offensive backfield, but the Sequoits graduated star running back Dan Arden (Carroll). The Sequoits allowed an NSC Prairie-low 131 points in 10 games last season. The returnees on defense include DL Jack Johnson, LB Tim Wennstrom, LB Cody Gwinn and DB Cameron Slate.
— Joe Aguilar