Montini wears conference target proudly

The top team in the Chicago Catholic League Green Division is obvious, going on three years now.

“Everybody has got us as the favorite, so we're the ones with the target,” said 38-year Montini coach Chris Andriano. “In other words we should get everybody's best game.”

That happens after a 14-0 season and Class 6A championship, accomplished with relative ease by outscoring foes 512-123. Nonconference Maine South and 6A semifinalist Prairie Ridge were the only opponents to stay within single digits of the Broncos.

This fall, Maine South and crossovers against CCL Blue heavies Brother Rice and Mt. Carmel threaten another unbeaten campaign, and Montini could get more pushback from within the CCL Green.

Montini's returning starters are few but strong, such as linemen Joe Spivak and Michael Ross, Purdue-bound defensive back Mitch West, linebacker Nick Foster, receiver Brandon Shilgalis and Western Michigan recruit Prince Walker, who ran for 1,266 yards and 21 touchdowns last season.

Andriano hinted the spread offense may highlight the run, but that's less a reflection on incoming junior quarterback Brad Norgle than it is a desire to get the ball to second running back Will Smith.

Montini graduated nearly all its stellar defense, though Spivak and Ross are huge on the interior line. Next men up include York transfer Tom Morrissey and sophomore Jackson Bruscianelli at linebacker.

“I think our biggest weakness is just going to be coming together as an offense and a defense to find out what we do best,” Andriano said.

St. Francis was surprised when in May Mike Fitzgerald announced he was taking an assistant coaching and teaching position at Naperville North, but new coach Joe Lepsche helped St. Thomas to Division III championship appearances in 2012 and 2015 as an assistant. Also St. Thomas' recruiting coordinator, Lepsche is well-versed in area football and the CCL's place within it.

“That's the best part about it, week in and week out you don't really have any cupcakes or down weeks,” Lepsche said.

St. Francis has a small but stout corps of returning starters: Greg Bogdanski, Andrew Olson, Gabe Meyer, Bryan Murray, Shane Walker and Nolan Pechan. All but running back Pechan played on the line or at linebacker — or both — to provide both leadership and toughness.

The Spartans will need lots of each to handle an upgraded schedule that features Geneva and St. Viator rather than Kelvyn Park and Catalyst/Maria.

Marmion should be better. Not counting kicker-punter Connor Hoeft, coach Dan Thorpe's Cadets return five offensive starters and seven on defense including all-CCL Green honorees Nick Auriemma and, particularly, Northern Illinois-bound tackle Wes Kramer.

DeLaSalle graduated all-conference quarterback Tom Duddleston but senior receiver Eric Rooks comes off two prior all-conference honors. The Meteors finished second to Montini at 3-1 in Green play; outside the Green DeLaSalle went 1-5, its losses to teams that were a combined 61-16.

Watch Fenwick, led by Driscoll Catholic Hall of Famer Gene Nudo. The Friars, who signed a 10-year contract to play games on Friday nights at Triton College, return 18 starters.

Nudo rattled off numerous players with either college offers or commitments including quarterback Jacob Keller, tight end Jack Henige, receiver Michael O'Laughlin and all-conference seniors Brett Moorman and Joe Calcagno, the latter headed to Penn State as a preferred walk-on long snapper.

“Our guys are definitely out to prove something,” said Nudo, whose Friars face three defending 14-0 champions — Montini, Phillips and Loyola — and add Providence as a crossover.

“Until we start doing it on a consistent basis I don't want to talk too much. But I feel good about where we are,” Nudo said.

In the CCL White, Aurora Christian comes off a 4-5 season and its first non-playoff campaign in 13 years. Dave Beebe's Eagles return 16 starters from last year's young squad, such as all-conference quarterback Drew Clippert. Aurora Christian also has defending Class 3A champion Bishop McNamara and Class 5A semifinalist St. Laurence to contend with in the White, and both will be tough again this season.

Regarding tough, there's the CCL Blue.

Providence figures to be back on the upswing behind running back Richie Warfield, Brother Rice brings receiver Ricky Smalling, Mt. Carmel returns backs Mike Kennedy and Alec Thomas, among others.

Loyola coach John Holecek has left-side linemen John Brekke and Jack Badovinac back, plus Duke recruit Jake Marwede at tight end. Defensively, the Ramblers are replacing all but Connecticut-bound defensive back Ian Swenson.

Projections? Holecek doesn't put much stock in them although “Edgy” Tim O'Halloran of Rivals.com has the Ramblers No. 1 in Class 8A, same with Mt. Carmel in Class 7A and Montini in Class 6A.

“I think it's useless to speculate,” said Holecek, the former Buffalo Bill. “Most people go on reputation and what you've done in the past. I know we're ranked really high but I don't know if we deserve it yet.”