Grayslake North team built on speed

As Grayslake North football coach Steve Wood and his assistants timed kids who flat-out fly, they realized how time flies.

The stopwatch wasn't lying during this recent practice. One player was clocked running the 40-yard dash in under than five seconds. Then another player sped just as fast. And then another.

In 2006, when Grayslake North was putting its first varsity football team on the field, it was different.

"We did not have one kid that ran under a five-second 40," said Wood, who's been the Knights' only head coach. "Not one kid. When they were seniors - the second year we were here - we got our first kid that ran a 4.91 in practice.

"We did cartwheels," Wood added, laughing. "Now, we've got sophomores running 4.4's."

Two years, Merrick Gentile was a sophomore quarterbacking the varsity. Like his program, Gentile has come far. The senior was scheduled to direct the speedy Knights for the third year in a row, but during last Friday's scrimmage, Gentile tore his ACL. He will be out for the season, Wood said.

A 6-foot, 215-pounder with 4.5 speed, Gentile has Division-I potential in both football and baseball. He says he's talking to 6-7 colleges about football opportunities.

"Baseball, I won't know until the spring," Gentile said earlier this month. "I'm getting into football stuff so I'm not going to focus on baseball right now."

Wood knew what a special athlete he has in Gentile, who was hoping to lead the Knights to the postseason for the third consecutive year.

"He's the ultimate competitor, which I've said since his sophomore year," said Wood, whose team has won 21 games the last three seasons. "He's really been fun to coach."

Like Gentile, Dami Oladunmoye runs fast. Oladunmoye may not boast the speed of Titus Booker, but few do. With Booker playing Big Ten football at Wisconsin, Oladunmoye replaces him as the Knights' main running back. The junior rushed the ball a lot last season, while also starting on defense at cornerback. He has a scholarship offer from Syracuse to play lacrosse.

Junior newcomer Griffin Gawenda is another speedster who runs the 40 in under five seconds. Sophomore Pete Stanfel can run the ball too but will start at linebacker. He is the grandson of former NFL great and Bears assistant coach Dick Stanfel, who passed away this summer. Senior Charlie Walker is another candidate to get snaps.

Sean Pearce (6-4, 250) is back to anchor the offensive line after earning all-conference honors as a junior. Jack Rutkowski (6-3, 250), Payton Campbell (6-5, 240) and Bobby Thomsen also return upfront. They helped the Knights win their second Fox Valley Fox Division title in three years last season.

"Up front, we should be pretty good," Wood said. "We should be bigger, faster and more athletic than we've been."

Senior Matt Aikin, who played a lot last season, and sophomore newcomer Elliott Hochstein provide speed at receiver.

"No Titus. We obviously lose a great weapon," Gentile said. "But we got Dami and our line up front is huge. They all want it."

Stefan Davis will play some slot receiver as well as start at linebacker. Junior J.D. Pelegrino has had an impressive camp, and Wood is equally excited about the potential of newcomer Bobby Krebs, who's made his mark in varsity basketball, baseball and golf the last couple of years.

"He's starting to learn the offense, and he's not afraid of contact," Wood said of Krebs, who will play receiver.

"Offensively, I don't think we're going to miss a beat," Wood added. "We may be a little different. There may not be so many 80-yard runs. Which is OK because it will keep our defense off the field."

Defensively, the Knights graduated a lot of personnel, but there's talent back.

"We're going to be better than we've ever been up front," Wood said. "That's going to be the strength. Our D-line is just going to be hands-down dominant."

Bronson Watson (6-3, 305) returns at nose tackle and gets off the ball quickly, Wood said. Pearce, Campbell and Jake Pollina will anchor the ends. Austin Alcozer also plays nose. Walker and Davis are back at linebacker. Oladunmoye gives the secondary some experience.