Football: Confident Grayslake North expecting another big run

For the second year in a row, the brick wall decorating the entrance to Grayslake North's stadium read "AYSLAKE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL."

A thief apparently was to blame.

Gr(rrrr).

Meanwhile, both head coach Steve Wood (Achilles) and star running back Dami Oladunmoye (sprained ankle) were in walking boots at practice.

No sweat. The Knights are not broken.

"All's well," said Wood, smiling.

True.

The Knights went to the state playoffs for the fourth year in a row last fall, and boasting a squad that includes Oladunmoye and several other speed threats, they don't figure to lose any steam this season.

"This could be one of our most balanced teams," Wood said. "I don't necessarily mean balanced in that all of our skill kids are really good, but just across the board. We have a better-than-average offensive line, better-than-average quarterback, better-than-average running back. If we can stay healthy - like every coach says - and get a break or two along the way, who knows?"

What's fact is that Oladunmoye is an all-state-caliber player. In his second varsity season but first as the team's featured running back, the senior rushed for 1,850 yards and 26 touchdowns. He remains verbally committed to Syracuse for lacrosse but said Central Michigan and Miami of Ohio have expressed interest in him for football.

"I'm still open to all options," said Oladunmoye, who is expected to be medically cleared to play by Opening Night against Willowbrook but might be used sparingly anyway, as the Knights want to make sure his ankle is completely healed. "I'm just trying to get sports to take me to a place where I can better my education and get something beyond sports out of it."

Because Oladunmoye is such a game-breaking talent, Wood might have his star play some quarterback too.

"We're trying to mix it up," Oladunmoye said. "We're trying to see if we can spice things up to give us more points on the board and make teams respect us a little more."

And, yes, he can throw.

"I'm learning still," Oladunmoye said with a laugh. "It's a lot harder than Madden makes it look."

Senior Hunter Ambre, a baseball pitcher, figures to be the Knights' regular quarterback. Wood said Ambre was scheduled to start a game at QB last season but then suffered a high-ankle sprain and was done for the season. Griffin Gawenda is another weapon for the Knights and will have a more active role in the offense.

After Oladunmoye got dinged up early on in the Knights' second-round playoff loss to Riverside-Brookfield last year, Gawenda came in and wound up rushing 19 times for 152 yards (both season highs) and a TD.

Gawenda qualified for the Class 3A state track meet in the 110-meter high hurdles last spring.

"We're going to get him more on the field, and we're going to get him more touches," Wood said. "We're going to have a plan going in. He's worked really hard in the off-season."

Jared Sims and Jordan Speer started every game on the offensive line as juniors last year, and Justin Bock gives the Knights more experienced protection. Eric Obenauf is new to the offensive line, as are senior twins Cristian and Bryan Melgoza.

Wood wants to make tight end Payton Campbell a more vital part of the offense. The wide receivers include junior speedster Bubba Hochstein, Cole West, sophomore Zack Carter and junior Brett Lila.

Defensively, senior linebacker Charlie Burr and junior linebacker Willie Bauman started regularly last year, and senior Jeremiah Myles earned a handful of starts.

Campbell and Bock are veterans on the defensive line. Junior lineman Ryan Bernstein has had a nice camp and has impressed Wood with his work ethic and improved strength. Sophomore Adam George will start at safety, while seniors Dan Breuscher and Shane Woods will man the corners.

"We all grew up on neighboring teams like the Colts, Timberwolves, Junior Knights," Oladunmoye said. "We grew up with the mentality that we're grinding. We're not always going to be the best team on the field, but it doesn't matter as long as that scoreboard is in our favor at the end of the game."