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DuPage County teams kick off the first day of practice

Welcome to football season.

With the start of practice on Monday, the journey to the state title games Thanksgiving weekend in Champaign officially began for DuPage County's 28 football teams.

To get an idea of what to expect this season, we offer five storylines.

1. Top teams:

On Monday the road to Champaign was reopened to all.

"We're 0-0 and everybody we play starting the season is 0-0," said Waubonsie Valley coach Paul Murphy.

A zero resembles a bull's eye. Opening the season Murphy's Warriors are among DuPage County's top targets. Sixteen starters return from last year's wild ride to the Class 8A semifinals, including new full-time quarterback Tanner Westwood, safety Connor Yukna, cornerback Derric Lee and offensive linemen Corey McKnight, Dan Dominiak and Alex Stone.

"We're not going to sneak up on anybody this year like we did last year," Murphy said.

There are plenty of others on the radar.

Glenbard North has wowed recruiters. Receiver-defensive back Jace James committed to Northwestern; returning secondary mates Tyrik Henderson and Greg Newsome have racked up the offers. And you can't forget 1,000-yard rusher Vittorio Tricase.

"I think there's going to be several teams from the DVC that'll be near the top," said Neuqua Valley coach Bill Ellinghaus, who's high on his own guys. The Wildcats blend athleticism with senior leadership as offensive lineman Jake Zeiler, linebacker Anthony Ippolito and Division 1 recruits Isaiah Robertson and Owen Piche are in their third varsity seasons.

Reloading Naperville Central will run behind Western Michigan-bound lineman Trevor Campbell. Wheaton Warrenville South surprised to win its Red Grange 7-on-7 tournament then made the Elite Eight at the USA Football National 7-on-7 in Hoover, Alabama.

At least one DuPage County team has reached a state championship game every year since 1990. Last season Montini and Glenbard West delivered the 31st and 32nd titles in that span. These programs are at the point where they expect to do so again.

Glenbard West graduated bullish back Sam Brodner but foes will find sledding tough against Hilltoppers linebackers Jackson Goleash, Chris Langan, Eric Samuta, Mark Mattson and Yanni Pappas. Columbia-bound Hinsdale Central quarterback Josh Bean will give it a shot.

If running back Prince Walker, defensive back Mitch West, two-way lineman Joe Spivak and the Montini Broncos can survive a brutal nonconference schedule - Maine South, Lake Zurich, Brother Rice, Mt. Carmel - they'll be primed for a run at a sixth title in eight seasons.

Week 1 offers a rematch of defending Class 3A champion Bishop McNamara and semifinalist IC Catholic Prep. Each returning stars like IC running back Jordan Rowell, these teams should enjoy long seasons.

Defending state champions McNamara, Loyola, Phillips and usual suspects such as Mt. Carmel, Homewood-Flossmoor, Cary-Grove and Marist aren't going away.

One team on people's tongues is Lincoln-Way East, which added bodies with the closing of 2015 Class 6A quarterfinalist Lincoln-Way North. Coach Rob Zvonar won a 2005 Class 8A title, reached the 2012 Class 7A championship and now has more than 100 boys to work with.

Yet numbers alone don't cut it.

"We're going to need to bring our 'A' game," Murphy said, "and if we don't we're going to be in trouble."

2. The next level:

Neuqua Valley senior Isaiah Robertson exudes excitement when talking about his future at the University of Notre Dame.

In the same breath he focuses on the present.

"I'm so excited to get there, I can't wait," he said. "But as excited as I am, right now I'm just working to have a great season. We're looking good right now."

Robertson, a wide receiver and defensive back, is one of DuPage County's premier college recruits in what looks to be another strong year for talent in the area. With more than a dozen scholarship offers in hand, the 6-foot-2, 190-pounder last spring chose the Irish.

Rated as the state's No. 3 senior recruit by Rivals.com analyst "Edgy" Tim O'Halloran - a list headed by Edwardsville defensive lineman A.J. Epenesa and East St. Louis receiver Jeff Thomas - Robertson could play offense or defense at the next level.

Another of the state's top recruits is 6-4, 265-pound defensive lineman Jacub Panasiuk. Committed to Michigan State, the Lake Park senior is poised to join older brother Mike, who will be a freshman this fall for the Spartans.

A pair of running backs will make a big impact this season and beyond. IC Catholic Prep's Jordan Rowell is committed to Northern Illinois University while Montini's Prince Walker will play at Western Michigan.

College recruiters always flock to DuPage County to find quality offensive lineman, and this year is no different. Naperville Central's Trevor Campbell, also committed to Western Michigan, is the area's top lineman.

Glenbard North boasts a trio of college recruits. While senior receiver Jace James is committed to Northwestern, junior defensive backs Tyrik Henderson and Greg Newsome also hold scholarship offers.

Like most recent seasons, the names noted above represent a mere sample of the college-caliber talent in DuPage County.

"The talent level is so high around here, especially in the (DuPage Valley Conference)," said Robertson, whose teammate Owen Piche is committed to Navy. "There are a lot of great players out there."

3. Year 2:

Last season Metea Valley, Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley joined the DuPage Valley Conference to form a grueling nine-team unit.

"The thing about the DVC," Metea coach Ben Kleinhans said, "is everyone has the same goals - everyone is shooting for a conference championships, for going deep into the playoffs and for a state championship."

All three acquitted themselves admirably. Neuqua and Waubonsie reached the playoffs along with DVC champ Naperville Central and second-place Glenbard North. In this new arrangement good teams will miss the playoffs.

"I think this year you're going to see a lot of teams hovering in the .500 area and fighting to get that fifth win," said Naperville North coach Sean Drendel.

Waubonsie Valley epitomized DVC preparation. Uncertain even of a playoff berth at 5-4 after season-ending losses to Naperville North and Wheaton North, the 30th-seeded Warriors beat No. 2 Edwardsville, Naperville Central and avenged a loss to Neuqua Valley.

"What we're telling our kids is we've got nine playoff games," Waubonsie's Murphy said.

Some teams, like Glenbard North, had little experience against the former Upstate Eight teams. Coach Ryan Wilkens likened the amount of filmwork to a playoff run. That should ease up in Year 2.

Did the DVC toughen or wear down the newcomers?

"That's probably the million-dollar question," said Neuqua coach Bill Ellinghaus.

He felt his players became mentally stronger and believes they'll be more so in 2016. On the other hand, Ellinghaus said, "we definitely had some injuries late in the season that maybe wouldn't have happened if we weren't playing such a grueling schedule."

Montini and St. Francis are in Year 2 of Chicago Catholic League play. Montini coach Chris Andriano rues losing former rival Marian Central but said playing such "powerhouse programs" as Brother Rice and St. Rita make up for it. In addition to playing CCL Green foes St. Francis, Marmion, Fenwick and DeLaSalle, should Montini make the playoffs at all it's postseason-ready.

"It wasn't any more or less difficult (than the Suburban Christian Conference)," Broncos coach Chris Andriano said.

St. Francis has ramped up its slate. Last season's schedule included 0-8 Kelvyn Park, 0-6 startup Catalyst/Maria and Hales Franciscan, which forfeited. Despite a 5-4 record, the Spartans did not qualify for the playoffs.

St. Francis responded by scheduling nonconference foes Geneva, St. Viator and CCL crossover Loyola. That'll prepare a team.

4. Road tripping:

It'll be another odd season for the DuPage Valley Conference.

Because the DVC still sits at nine schools - and because last season's crossover agreement with the Upstate Eight Conference ended after one year - four of the football teams must travel outside the state for a week to fill their schedules.

Despite vigorous efforts to find in-state nonconference competition, it proved too difficult for Naperville Central, Neuqua Valley, Waubonsie Valley and Wheaton Warrenville South. Not only do nonconference opponents typically shy away from the high level of play in the DVC, but scheduling in Weeks 3-9 is nearly impossible because conference play is in full swing.

"In October we decided that everyone needed to grab what they could get," said Wheaton North athletic director Matt Fisher, the DVC's coordinator for football. "And I think in November we decided we should enter two-year contracts to make it a little easier to schedule. So we're set for this season and next season. After that we'll have to see."

The ideal solution would be for the DVC to find a 10th school to join or shrink a bit to return to an even number of schools. Again, though, no such solution has been found despite a continual search.

That means Waubonsie Valley and Neuqua Valley will play a game in Indiana, Naperville Central will spend Week 6 in Ohio and WW South will be in Michigan for Week 8. Glenbard North, Lake Park and Metea Valley managed to find in-state nonconference opponents in Weeks 3, 4 and 9 while Naperville North and Wheaton North continue with Sandburg and Joliet Catholic in the season's first two weeks.

"We've been fortunate that everyone's been able to find a game," Fisher said. "We're building relationships with other states that'll hopefully help us in the future."

Out-of-state competition is the short-term answer to the scheduling issues, but Fisher and the rest of the DVC hope it's not the long-term plan. In 2018 the DVC schedule will rotate and new challenges begin.

5. Win-win:

It appeared DuPage County's coaches would stand pat from 2015. Then on May 6 Mike Fitzgerald informed St. Francis he would not return for a third season, hired to teach social studies at Naperville North where he'll be Huskies coach Sean Drendel's offensive coordinator.

Forced to act, St. Francis hired Joe Lepsche, an assistant at Division III power St. Thomas in Minnesota, his alma mater. St. Thomas' recruiting coordinator, a coincidental call this spring to Fitzgerald spurred Lepsche to contact St. Francis and get the ball rolling.

"I've known 'Fitz' since he was at Marist," said Lepsche, 32. "I spoke with him probably for four hours on the drive here."

In his 11th year coaching with one year in preps at the private Hill-Murray School in Maplewood, Minnesota, the bulk of Lepsche's experience came at St. Thomas most recently as offensive line coach. At St. Francis he will be offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Lepsche helped St. Thomas to an 87-14 record over eight seasons with national runner-up finishes in 2012 and 2015. Last year's squad ranked second among Division III schools in scoring at 51.3 points a game, seventh in total offense averaging 516 yards.

"It all starts up front and I've been a big believer in that," said Lepsche, whose wife, the former Megan Kell, is a 2003 St. Charles East graduate.

At Naperville North, Fitzgerald's freshly installed spread offense produced fast results. Returning quarterback Luke Celges and the Huskies went 11-3 at Wheaton Warrenville South's 7-on-7 tournament, losing 18-16 to the Tigers in the title contest. Naperville North went 5-4 at the event in 2015.

Sean Drendel also welcomed back one of his mentors, John Jackson, as linebackers coach. Defensive coordinator for Naperville North's 1992 Class 6A champion under coach Larry McKeon, Jackson added to a hall of fame resume at Plainfield Central before resigning after last season.

"One thing that Coach McKeon used to say to me is hire great people and let them coach," Drendel said.

Great games:

Too bad we can't clone ourselves for these games. All are Friday unless noted.

Week 1, Aug. 26-27: Bishop McNamara at IC Catholic Prep, Glenbard North at Naperville Central, Glenbard West at Bolingbrook, Montini at Maine South, Wheaton Warrenville South at Wheaton North.

Week 2, Sept. 2-3: Coal City at Lisle, Lake Zurich at Montini, Naperville Central at Neuqua Valley, Benet at Notre Dame, Waubonsie Valley at Glenbard North.

Week 3, Sept. 9-10: Downers Grove South at Hinsdale South; Glenbard East at South Elgin (Saturday), Hinsdale Central at Downers Grove North, Neuqua Valley at Waubonsie Valley, St. Francis at Marmion.

Week 4, Sept. 16-17: Addison Trail at Downers South, Downers North at Glenbard West (Saturday), Naperville North at Lake Park, Waubonsie Valley at Naperville Central, WW South at Neuqua Valley.

Week 5, Sept. 23-24: Lake Park at Wheaton North, Lyons Twp. at Glenbard West, Metea Valley at Waubonsie Valley, Nazareth at Benet, Willowbrook at York.

Week 6, Sept. 30-Oct. 1: Glenbard West at Hinsdale Central (Saturday), Hinsdale South at Addison Trail, Riverside-Brookfield at IC Catholic, Wheaton North at Glenbard North, Wilmington at Lisle.

Week 7, Oct. 7-8: Joliet Catholic at Benet, Lake Park at Glenbard North, Lisle at Westmont, Naperville Central at Naperville North, WW South at Metea Valley.

Week 8, Oct. 14-15: Fenton at Wheaton Academy (Saturday), IC Catholic at Glenbard South, Mt. Carmel at Montini, Naperville North at Waubonsie Valley, West Chicago at Glenbard East.

Week 9, Oct. 21-22: Glenbard East at Bartlett, Neuqua Valley at Glenbard North, Riverside-Brookfield at Glenbard South, St. Francis at Montini, WW South at Naperville North.

Follow Kevin on Twitter @kevin_schmit

Follow Dave on Twitter @doberhelman1

  Coach Paul Murphy looks on as quarterback Tanner Westwood hands off the ball to Nate Ashford during football practice at Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora on Monday. Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
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