Glenbard West’s Caspers sees his future at Stanford
Add Johnny Caspers to the list of Glenbard West linemen bound for a big-time college football program.
The Hilltoppers’ 6-foot-4, 285-pound senior offensive tackle verbally committed to Stanford University Tuesday night after taking an official visit to the Palo Alto, California campus last weekend.
Caspers held offers from Arizona, several Mid-American Conference schools and Colorado State, but as soon as the Stanford offer came his way on Monday it was only a matter of time before he committed to the Cardinal, which is 5-0 and won last season’s Orange Bowl.
“The players and staff have really turned it around,” Caspers said. “Early on the recruiting was something I was worried about. It’s good to get it out of the way and to know I’m going somewhere I really want to go.”
Caspers is the latest in a line of standout linemen at Glenbard West, a list that includes senior teammate Tommy Schutt, a defensive lineman who committed to Penn State just before the regular season started.
Jordan Walsh, now at Iowa, was an offensive lineman on last year’s team. Chris Watt is a starting left guard for Notre Dame while older brother Kevin plays on Northwestern’s defensive line.
“It definitely helps coming from a school that’s had so many great linemen,” Caspers said. “It’s a lot easier to get noticed.”
He’s No. 1:While the hubbub at Montini has concerned the return of quarterback John Rhode from a broken thumb that occurred in the Broncos#146; preseason scrimmage, receiver Jordan Westerkamp has broken one state record and is on the verge of setting another.The Nebraska-bound receiver owns the all-time state record for receiving touchdowns.On the strength of 12 touchdowns on 36 receptions this season, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound senior has 51 receiving touchdowns spanning his four years on varsity. The prior mark, set by Wheaton Warrenville South#146;s Jon Schweighardt in 1997 and 1998 and equaled by Newton#146;s Levi Richards in 2006, was 43, according to the Illinois High School Association.Westerkamp set the state mark of 44 on a 78-yard catch of a Gorogianis pass in Montini#146;s 21-20 loss at Marian Central.Also according to the IHSA, Westerkamp is tied for ninth place all time with 181 receptions; the record is 234. And as Montini (5-2, 3-1 Suburban Christian Blue) heads into Saturday#146;s game at Walther Lutheran, Westerkamp#146;s 3,492 total receiving yards stand just 6 behind Tom Guardi of Riverside-Brookfield, who finished with 3,498 yards receiving in 2001.Closing in:The weeks go by and Wheaton North (6-1, 5-0) remains alone atop the DuPage Valley Conference standings. The Falcons are a game ahead of Naperville North and Wheaton Warrenville South.#147;I told the kids there are seven other teams that want to be where we#146;re at,#148; said Wheaton North coach Joe Wardynski. #147;Now it#146;s a matter of responding to that challenge.#148;Wheaton North, ranked ninth in The Associated Press Class 7A state poll, scored key DVC victories over Naperville North and Naperville Central, teams the Falcons also swept last season.Remaining, however, are Glenbard North and Wheaton Warrenville South. Wheaton North hasn#146;t beaten either team since last winning the DVC title with a 7-0 mark in 2002. A victory over Glenbard North on Friday in Wheaton would clinch at least a share of the conference title.#147;Just the fact that it#146;s time to go against our rivals, and these are two teams we#146;ve struggled with,#148; Wardynski said. #147;We know our two toughest games are still ahead of us.#148;Better behind center:Naperville North quarterback Tyler Gehr understandably took some time acclimating himself to the position this season.The athletic senior spent his junior year playing defense in the secondary and saw more playing time as the season progressed. His season on defense came after spending his sophomore year at quarterback.#147;He lost a whole year at that position, and he had to start the whole process again in just a couple of months,#148; said Huskies coach Sean Drendel.It didn#146;t help the process, Drendel notes, that Gehr was the sophomore quarterback under a different offensive system. Not only did he have to relearn the position heading into this season, he had to learn to run the Huskies#146; version of the spread.Spurred by the last three weeks of winning games with a total of 141 points, the Huskies boast a 5-2 record and a 4-1 DVC mark heading into Friday#146;s cross-town game against Naperville Central at North Central College. Gehr has completed 57 percent of his passes for 622 yards, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception. He#146;s also rushed for 424 yards and 6 touchdowns.#147;We#146;re starting to make some progress on that side of the ball,#148; Drendel said. #147;Tyler#146;s done a nice job for us.#148;Witty:Neuqua Valley coach Bryan Wells is a treasure trove of interesting, often humorous quotations. Here#146;s one pertaining to the Wildcats#146; upcoming game against physically imposing Bartlett:#147;The defense has got to understand that this is like running your head against a wall 50 times a game. That#146;s the type of pounding they#146;ll give you. If you#146;re going to shy away from it, you#146;re going to get beat.#148;Back in the saddle:Out for nearly all of the past four games with a twisted right knee suffered on Metea Valley#146;s first possession of its Week 4 loss to South Elgin, quarterback Jarrett House should return this Friday against Lake Park.#147;Hopefully, he#146;ll stay healthy, and we hope to get on a roll,#148; Monken said of the senior slinger.It#146;s the Mustangs#146; Fall Festival on Friday #8212; can#146;t have a homecoming yet, not without any alumni #8212; and Monken hopes the home fans will be treated to a more balanced offensive attack with House in the house.Since a 3-0 start Metea Valley (3-4, 1-4) has struggled without him on the field. Aside from lacking the emotional lift and big arm House provides, the Mustangs#146; skid has been more about who they#146;ve played #8212; South Elgin, Waubonsie Valley, Neuqua Valley, Bartlett #8212; than anything backup quarterback Peyton Mitchell has or has not done.House comes into the Lake Park game having completed 36 of 60 passes for 442 yards, 6 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.#147;I think he gives us a little more of a (downfield) dimension,#148; Monken said. #147;The kids have confidence with him because he has been with us for three years. I think he gives us a spark.#148;Spark extinguisher?Lake Park defensive back James Sowa will enter the Metea game with great confidence after his difference-making play in the Lancers#146; 43-27 win over St. Charles East.The 6-foot-1, 160-pound senior dove to intercept a pass to hold off the Saints, who had pulled within 30-27 in the third quarter. Lake Park (3-4, 1-3 Upstate Eight Valley) responded with a LaCurt Evans#146; touchdown run, then Sowa gathered in a deflected pass and returned it for another touchdown to hammer home the final nail.Sowa also completed a 26-yard option pass, one of Lake Park#146;s 20 plays that went for at least 10 yards, out of 46 offensive plays.The bottom line:Asked his favorite part of St. Francis#146; 20-14 win over Marmion, Spartans coach Greg Purnell said: #147;The final score.#148;#147;We controlled the ball, controlled the line of scrimmage in the first half. I just think we executed extremely well,#148; he said.Usual suspect Jack Petrando followed linemen Kyle Bosch, Josh Croci, Peter Quirk, James Kalfas, Steve Flaherty, Ryan O#146;Kasick and Alex Napoli for 2 touchdowns and 123 yards on the ground. Jeff Rutkowski and Dan Beck also were effective running the ball, and in a nice progression of events quarterback Nick Donati was a smart 7-of-12 passing for 104 yards with a 44-yard touchdown pass to Beck. Purnell called it #147;a huge win#148; and now looks forward to Saturday#146;s game at Immaculate Conception (5-2, 3-1 Suburban Christian Gold).St. Francis (5-2, 2-2 Suburban Christian Blue) has just four senior starters #8212; Donati, Rutkowski, linebacker Nate Baratta and defensive back Hunter Bolin #8212; yet the Spartans#146; five wins and 35 playoff points thus far look good to nab a playoff slot. IC and 4-3 St. Edward conclude St. Francis#146; regular-season schedule. #147;IC is a good football team, they#146;re 5-2,#148; Purnell said. #147;Their new coaching staff has done a great job over there. I think the team that comes out and executes best will win the game.#148; 24212069Johnny Caspers of Glenbard West during the first day of football practice on Wednesday in Glen Ellyn.Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com