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Scouting the St. Francis Spartans

When Joe Lepsche took over as St. Francis' new football coach, people wanted to know particulars.

What system would he run on offense? What was his defensive scheme?

Out of Division III power University of St. Thomas, Lepsche thought there were better things to discuss.

"The first question people should be asking is what kind of culture are you going to build," said the first-year coach, also the offensive coordinator. "And the culture that we want to build here is helping kids become mentally tough people that are extremely thoughtful in everything they do."

St. Francis' core of returning leaders is up for that. Between the time former coach Mike Fitzgerald accepted Naperville North teaching and assistant coaching spots and when Lepsche arrived in June, veteran Spartans assistant Pat Rosmonowski and seniors Brian Murray, Shane Walker, Andrew Olson and Greg Bogdanski were "holding the team together," Lepsche said.

That's good glue. Walker and Murray are returning starting linemen. Olson and Bogdanski are linebackers, Bogdanski a 2015 Chicago Catholic League Green all-conference selection after he made a team-high 70 tackles. Another senior lineman, Gabe Meyer, is right with them as a team leader.

Key Spartans got banged up early and often last season. Due to shifting around it was hard to tell exactly what Nolan Pechan could really do. Still, the returning back led St. Francis with 297 yards rushing and 7 touchdowns, and he made 30 tackles on defense.

Lepsche called Pechan a "special" player. Between Pechan's running ability and Bogdanski and Olson serving as tight end targets for probable quarterback John Brundage, a senior, Lepsche looks for a balanced offense.

"We're in the upper Midwest and the best teams and the teams that win state championships are teams that run the football and stop the run," the coach said.

- Dave Oberhelman

The breakdown

Coach: Joe Lepsche (first year).

2015 record: 5-4, 2-2, third in the Chicago Catholic League Green.

Top players: Greg Bogdanski (FB-TE-LB, 6-1, 220, sr.), Michael Cascella (WR-DB, 5-6, 140, so.), Joe Lang (WR-DB, 5-5, 127, so.), Gabe Meyer (OL-DL, 6-0, 230, sr.), Bryan Murray (OL-LB, 5-10, 240, sr.), Andrew Olson (TE-DL, 6-2, 205, sr.), Nolan Pechan (RB-DB, 5-10, 180, sr.), Zach Radel (RB-DB, 5-9, 135, so.), John Vohasek (WR-LB, 5-11, 185, jr.), Shane Walker (OL-DL, 6-5, 280, sr.)

St. Francis

Fri, 8/26, St. Francis at Geneva, 7:30 p.m.

Fri, 9/2, St. Viator at St. Francis, 7:30 p.m.

Fri, 9/9, St. Francis at Marmion Academy, 7:30 p.m.

Sat, 9/17, St. Francis at Loyola Academy, 1:30 p.m.

Fri, 9/23, DeLaSalle at St. Francis, 7:30 p.m.

Fri, 9/30, St. Francis at St. Ignatius, 7:30 p.m.

Fri, 10/7, Lake Forest at St. Francis, 7:30 p.m.

Fri, 10/14, Fenwick at St. Francis, 7:30 p.m.

Fri, 10/21, St. Francis at Montini, 7:30 p.m.

One to watch: Week 1

First-year coach Joe Lepsche unveils his offense and defense against a vastly upgraded nonconference opener, host Geneva.

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