Scouting the Naperville Central Redhawks

Last season was about redemption for Naperville Central’s football team.

This year’s about repeating.

The Redhawks eased the pain of missing the 2010 playoffs by surging to the Class 8A semifinals last season. Big-time players like running back Matt Randolph and defensive lineman Zach Borta graduated, but Naperville Central reloads with new talent and hopes especially pinned on 6-foot-4 junior quarterback Jake Kolbe.

“He’s got the strong arm and he runs well, but Jake’s also got a presence back there,” said Naperville Central coach Mike Stine.

Stine believes running back Nick Thomas, Rudolph’s backup last season, could have started for a bunch of DuPage Valley Conference teams last season. There’s depth at that position with junior Tyler Joyce and sophomore Kevin Clifford, a Neuqua Valley transfer and brother of former all-state Redhawks running back Ryan Clifford. Receivers Blake Butler and Lasoda Thompson give the Redhawks several options in their offense.

Last season Stine leaned heavily on the run and only called pass plays about 10 times a game. With Kolbe under center and a deeper set of skill players in the mix, the number of pass attempts could double.

Defensively the mission is to try and replace Borta, the DVC’s defensive player of the year last season. Linemen Cody Campbell and Ryan Berg, a linebacker as a junior, will be the disruptive presences up front.

Luke Roth is the “plugger” at middle linebacker while junior brothers Cole and Jack Wooldridge and sophomore Bobby McMillan add to the linebacking corps. Keep an eye on Jimmy Nashert and Kevin Nowak in the secondary.

The personnel may look different in many spots, but that doesn’t mean the Redhawks are rebuilding. If anything, they’re closer to repeating last season’s success.

“It’s a group where you like all the pieces, but it’s the intangibles you wonder about,” Stine said. “If the seniors and juniors can bond like last year, we could be pretty good.”

— Kevin Schmit

The breakdown

Coach: Mike Stine (seventh year, 41-24).

2011 record: 9-4, 5-2, third in DuPage Valley Conference.

Top players: Jake Kolbe (QB, 6-4, 195, jr.); Jimmy Nashert (DB-WR, 6-2, 190, sr.); Kevin Nowak (DB, 5-10, 170, sr.); Luke Roth (LB, 6-0, 215, sr.); Cody Campbell (DL, 6-3, 205, sr.); Ryan Berg (DL, 6-1, 205, sr.); Nick Thomas (RB, 6-0, 185, sr.); Ben Kribs (OL, 6-0, 240, sr.); Blake Butler (WR, 6-3, 175, sr.); Lasoda Thompson (WR, 5-9, 165, sr.); Tom McGee (OL, 6-2, 240, sr.).

Schedule

Fri, 8/24, Naperville Central at Waubonsie Valley, 7:30 p.m.

Fri, 8/31, Naperville Central at Neuqua Valley, 7:30 p.m.

Fri, 9/7, Naperville Central at Glenbard East, 7:30 p.m.

Fri, 9/14, West Aurora at Naperville Central, 7:30 p.m.

Fri, 9/21, Wheaton Warrenville South at Naperville Central, 7:30 p.m.

Fri, 9/28, Naperville Central at Glenbard North, 7:30 p.m.

Fri, 10/5, Wheaton North at Naperville Central, 7:30 p.m.

Fri, 10/12, Naperville North at Naperville Central (North Central), 7:30 p.m.

Fri, 10/19, Naperville Central at West Chicago , 7:30 p.m.