Warren's O-line has loud voice in team's success

Teenagers love their phones, but often, they don't use them in the way they were traditionally intended.

Talking on the phone is passe for that age group. Texting and using data is priority.

But at Warren, a group of offensive linemen has taken its phone usage old school. Real old school.

Each Sunday, the starting linemen get on a conference call and talk (yes, actually talk) to each other about everything from their upcoming game and their previous game to concerns and strategy.

"That group ... they are serious about their business," Warren coach Bryan McNulty said of his offensive linemen. "They'll be on that call for 45 minutes to an hour. I've never been around a group of guys who have done something like that. This is definitely above and beyond."

According to McNulty, the effort he's getting out of his offensive linemen is above and beyond. He says they are largely responsible for the Blue Devils' 7-0 start and a scoring average of 35.6 points per game, highest in the North Suburban Conference.

"The offensive line has just been so solid," McNulty said of Matt Rich, Ethan McDermott, Jack Hovey, Jaiden Lowery and Gus Krinich. "I think it's their continuity. These guys are always together on and off the field. They've got that call each week. They're always hanging out."

McNulty says that new offensive line coach Chris Caballero hit the ground running with his linemen and established a family feel from Day 1.

"Coach Caballero is from Stevenson where he was a defensive line coach and he came in right away with high standards for our guys," McNulty said. "He's got a lot of fire in him. He demands a lot of the kids at all times. He asks a lot of them but he also gives a lot to them. He's 6-foot-5, 300-something pounds. He's a huge dude and really gets the guys' attention."

Honoring Maddox: Before Lakes' football team sprints onto Polley Field for its rivalry game against visiting Antioch on Friday night, the Eagles will honor Maddox Joseph LoPriore.

Maddox was 8½ years old when he died unexpectedly last year. According to his obituary, he slipped into a diabetic coma due to Diabetic Ketoacidosis and a blood clot on his brain. The family has started the Butterfly Foundation to raise money for the research and treatment of Type 1 diabetes. Maddox attended Prince of Peace Catholic School in Lake Villa and was a third-grade student. He has three brothers - a freshman and twins who are seniors - who attend Lakes.

Both Antioch and Lakes are selling T-shirts at school to help support the foundation. The coaches will be wearing the T-shirts during the game as well.

Thursday marks exactly one year since Maddox's passing.

For more information or to help support the Butterfly Foundation, email: ButterflyEffectofMJL@Gmail.com.

Round Lake debuts stadium: Round Lake's new stadium is finally ready for its much-anticipated debut. The Panthers will play the first game on Friday night when they host Wauconda.

The new stadium includes an artificial-surface field, new track, new bleachers and new scoreboard.

Round Lake is inviting students, staff and community members for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 6:15 p.m. The varsity football game is scheduled for 7 p.m.

• Joe Aguilar contributed to this report.