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Preseason

Prep Football | Scouting the defending Class 7A champion Batavia Bulldogs

Batavia’s Michael Jansey, left, watches the ball pop loose following his tackle of Lake Zurich’s Jack Moses during the Class 7A championship game at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb last season. Jansey returns for the defending champs this season.

QB Austin Martineau throws during football practice at Grayslake North High School.

Prep Football | Scouting Grayslake North: It's a healthy forecast for Knights

The healthy return of running back Jordan Curtis and quarterback Austin Martineau bodes well for a Grayslake North team poised to succeed.

St. Charles North’s Tyler Nubin (27) moves past St. Charles East’s Yalon Rogers last season. Nubin is one of several returning players for the talented North Stars this season.

Prep Football | Scouting the St. Charles North North Stars

Football: Scouting St. Charles North

Prep Football | Scouting the IC Catholic Prep Knights

Scouting IC Catholic Prep football

Prep Football | Scouting the Glenbard West Hilltoppers

Football: Scouting Glenbard West.

Prep Football | Scouting the Montini Broncos

Scouting Montini football

Quarterback Arek Kleniuk leads a promising group of returners for a Rolling Meadows program which has been a consistent winner under coach Matt Mishler.

Prep Football | Scouting Rolling Meadows: No predictions, but expect Mustangs to live in the moment

Rolling Meadows football coach Matt Mishler doesn't plan to get specific when predicting how this year's team might pan out, but there's not debate over the track record of excellence his Mustangs squads have produced.

Hoffman Estates and coach Tim Heyse are looking forward to a successful follow-up to last year’s program-best season.

Prep Football | Scouting Hoffman Estates: Hawks aim to produce more magic

Hoffman Estates' football program will attempt to follow last year's magical performance with some new faces under coach Tim Heyse.

Bartlett High School head football coach Matt Erlenbaugh leads his team during drills.

Prep Football | Scouting the Bartlett Hawks

Football: Scouting Bartlett

South Elgin’s Azxavier Salinas, left, tries to regain control of the ball against West Aurora last season. Salinas is in the mix for the starting quarterback job for the Storm this year.

Prep Football | Scouting the South Elgin Storm

Football: Scouting South Elgin

Jake Bellizzi, here battling Deerfield’s Adam Pottinger for yardage last season, returns for a Maine West squad with another bright outlook.

Prep Football | Scouting Maine West: Warriors eager to play it again

After a breakthrough season last year, Maine West coach Jason Kradman's team is hoping it can earn a repeat playoff berth this fall.

Schaumburg all-around standout Heze Trotter closes in on Lake Zurich QB Evan Lewandowski during the first round of the Class 7A playoffs last fall. Trotter and plenty of skilled teammates are back in action for the Saxons this season.

Prep Football | Scouting Schaumburg: Skills surplus thrills Saxons

Heze Trotter is back in action for a Schaumburg team which finished 5-5 last season. The good news for Saxons football fans is he's got plenty of teammates bringing back skill and experience.

Prep Football | Scouting the Glenbard South Raiders

A look at the Glenbard South football season.

Prep Football | Scouting the Neuqua Valley Wildcats

Scouting Neuqua Valley football

Lake Zurich’s Austin LePage, right, intercepts a pass in front of St. Rita’s Frank Napleton during the Class 7A football playoffs. LePage, one of eight returning starters for the Bears, had 11 interceptions last fall.

Prep Football | Scouting Lake Zurich: Defensive excellence has Bears thinking big again

With eight starters back on defense and a promising array on offense, Lake Zurich's football team hopes to make another state championship game appearance this season -- only with a different result.

Prep Football | Scouting Libertyville: High expectations, low-key approach for Wildcats

Libertyville coach Mike Jones is playing it close to the vest, promising scheme changes but so far few details as his Wildcats take aim at a better finish to this football season.

Prep Football | Scouting Mundelein: Mustangs are making numerical strides

With 50 varsity players and 23 seniors on this year's roster, coach Larry Calhoun is confident Mundelein's football program is headed in the right direction.

Prep Football | Scouting Vernon Hills: Cougars adding a 5-wide wrinkle

Vernon Hills coach Bill Bellecomo has added veteran Otto Zeman to run the offense this season, and it will include elements of a 5-wide receiver offense.

Tight end/defensive lineman Zach Pelland runs during football practice at Warren.

Prep Football | Scouting Warren: Youth is Blue Devils' strength

Warren's football team might be younger than usual, but these Blue Devils are stronger, too.

PRESEASON TOP TEAMS

Rank	School	W	L	T
1	1	Batavia High School	13	1	Second state title took OT
1	Notes: Second state title took OT
2	2	Lake Zurich High School	13	1	NSC champs kept the focus on excellence
2	Notes: NSC champs kept the focus on excellence
3	3	Naperville Central High School	9	3	Fifth quarterfinal in seven years for DVC champs
3	Notes: Fifth quarterfinal in seven years for DVC champs
4	4	St. Charles North High School	9	2	Dealt 7A titleists their only loss
4	Notes: Dealt 7A titleists their only loss
5	5	Barrington High School	10	1	Niro era ends with a fine run
5	Notes: Niro era ends with a fine run
6	6	Benet Academy	9	4	Second straight Class 7A semifinal
6	Notes: Second straight Class 7A semifinal
7	7	Glenbard West High School	9	2	11th straight playoff berth for Silver champs
7	Notes: 11th straight playoff berth for Silver champs
8	8	Hoffman Estates High School	10	3	Best-ever season ends in 6A semis
8	Notes: Best-ever season ends in 6A semis
9	9	Wheaton North High School	8	3	DVC?s toughest D, first playoffs since 2013
9	Notes: DVC?s toughest D, first playoffs since 2013
10	10	St. Charles East High School	8	3	1 point short vs. 8A champs
10	Notes: 1 point short vs. 8A champs
11	11	Palatine High School	7	4	Losses came by a grand total of 12 points
11	Notes: Losses came by a grand total of 12 points
12	12	South Elgin High School	8	2	Second UEC Valley title in three seasons
12	Notes: Second UEC Valley title in three seasons
13	13	Huntley High School	8	2	Exciting season ends in first-round upset
13	Notes: Exciting season ends in first-round upset
14	14	Willowbrook High School	10	2	2nd straight quarterfinals for Gold champs
14	Notes: 2nd straight quarterfinals for Gold champs
15	15	John Hersey High School	9	2	MSL East champs excelled in all phases
15	Notes: MSL East champs excelled in all phases
16	16	Hinsdale Central High School	8	3	Overcame key injuries
16	Notes: Overcame key injuries
17	17	Cary-Grove High School	7	4	Won 14th straight first-round playoff game
17	Notes: Won 14th straight first-round playoff game
18	18	Buffalo Grove High School	9	2	Bison savor postseason return
18	Notes: Bison savor postseason return
19	19	IC Catholic Prep	13	1	Won second straight 3A title by shutout
19	Notes: Won second straight 3A title by shutout
20	20	Antioch Community High School	10	1	Quick playoff out after perfect regular season
20	Notes: Quick playoff out after perfect regular season