One more time for Roberts

There are good memories all over the walls of Rich Roberts' office.

There are newspaper clippings of some of Buffalo Grove's glory days of football such as the 1986 Class 6A state champion and 1978 5A runnerup.

There are pictures of former Bison stars and coaches.

And Roberts would love to add a few more good ones as he begins his 34th and last year of coaching and teaching before retiring. Roberts has spent all but two years at BG with the last 17 in charge of the program.

"Time does fly," Roberts said. "I feel really good. I have as much energy as I've always had, and I really like our kids and coaches."

Roberts, who was Prospect's head coach in 1982-83, is one of eight coaches to win at least 100 games while working at Mid-Suburban League schools. He is 105-80 overall and 98-69 at BG with three division titles and seven playoff trips.

Roberts' first job out of college was with Grant Blaney in the school's first full varsity season in 1974.

BG is 209-123 under Blaney and Roberts -- the only two head coaches in the program's history.

"I'm very proud of that -- the continuity of the program and the traditions of the program," Roberts said. "I'll tell the kids we've been doing this since 1974 and I'm not adverse to change, but there has to be a reason to change."

Roberts became BG's defensive coordinator in 1976 when current assistant coach Mike Staudt was a junior. He was also 82-79 with a regional and two MSL North titles as the boys head basketball coach from 1984-90.

Roberts coached players such as Don Thorp, the Big Ten MVP at Illinois in 1983, and all-America linebacker Jim Wagner (UCLA).

And the way quarterback Mark Benson directed the 1986 undefeated champs and the electrifying play of current Notre Dame star Tom Zbikowski stand out.

Roberts isn't sure if he'll continue to coach but said there has been interest in joining programs as an assistant. But that's something to consider a few months down the road.

"It's been a great run," Roberts said.

Who's the boss? A couple of familiar faces are back to help their former assistants turned head coaches.

Dave Pendergast, the winningest head coach in MSL history at 115, is coaching the offensive linemen at Conant. Pendergast had coached with an overseas team and at Joliet Junior College since his retirement in 2004.

"It's certainly a nice bonus and nice having him around," said Conant coach Bill Modelski, who was an assistant for 18 years to Pendergast. "I needed somebody and he was available so it worked out."

Former Barrington coach Al Kamradt has moved from Lake Zurich to help at Hoffman Estates. Kamradt gave second-year Hoffman coach Bill Helzer his first job at Barrington.

"He's had 30-some odd years of coaching so that's been huge," Helzer said. "It's nice to have another familiar face around."

A familiar face is back at Palatine in Sergio Lund, an all-area captain for the school's last playoff team in 1997.

"They think it's a cool thing coach Lund is back this year," said Palatine coach Tyler Donnelly of trying to end the 10-year postseason drought.

Prospect coach Brent Pearlman has put former head basketball coach Dominic Cannon in charge of running backs.

"They love him," Pearlman said. "He's having fun with it, too."

Offensive line coach Steve Polley has gone from Prospect to Elk Grove, and former Palatine star Bill Lange has moved from Wheeling to Schaumburg. Hoffman also has added MSL alums Paul Moersch (Conant) and Jeff Mandel (Fremd) to its staff and Dan Urban has returned to his alma mater at Rolling Meadows.

Welcome additions: One of the benefits of working at Hoffman Estates for a full year was Bill Helzer and assistant Joe Lewandowski could increase their efforts to bring in more players.

Junior starting cornerbacks Donovan Crawford and David Ehlers are baseball players who joined the football team. Outside linebacker Justin Price came over from gymnastics.

But the biggest addition is junior free safety-running back Jerome Henderson, a 6-foot-1,190-pound junior who moved in from Mt. Carmel.

Henderson was on the playoff roster as a cornerback for the Caravan's 8A state runnerup.

"It's a blessing having a kid come from an established program like that," Helzer said. "He can share those stories about working hard and it validates what we're trying to do. You can tell he's been well-coached."

Since Henderson moved in the first week of July his primary focus will be defense. Helzer said Henderson will split time at tailback with Pat Kathan.

Waiting game: Arlington's advancement to the American Legion baseball regional means Prospect senior defensive end Tim Scanlan won't have enough practices to play the first two games against Downers Grove North and Fremd.

"Those are two tough games to miss," said Prospect coach Brent Pearlman. "I'd love to see him play, but as a team it could be a blessing in disguise.

"I don't think we've started a season healthy with every kid since I've been here. Every year that's been a good year we've had to develop other kids right away, and when those other kids got back we got that much stronger."

Scanlan is the starting third baseman for Arlington and a Division I prospect. He's no slouch on the football field.

"I'd put Timmy in the category of one of the better ends we've had," Pearlman said. "When he's in there we can do a lot."

Tough losses: Hersey is expected to be without starting defensive tackles, sophomore Grant Reed (stress fracture in back) and junior Larry Scott (fractured elbow), for at least a month.

That's not good news for a team that doesn't have tremendous depth. But junior Lloyd Davis (5-10, 240) has made some early strides to help fill the inside void.

"He's really shown to be a fast study," said Hersey coach Mark Gunther. "He worked really hard in the off-season to make himself a player."

Change of venue: Hersey will host its cross-town rivalry opener with St. Viator for the second straight year at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24. Viator's home field at Forest View wasn't available to be used.

The rest of Viator's home games will be at Forest View, which is going to be run again by District 214.

"I'm excited about it," said Viator coach Chris Kirkpatrick. "They're doing things over there and helping us. We'll have a better working relationship."

Good as gold: Maine West is billing its home opener with Wheeling next Friday as the "Warrior Gold Rush." The school is asking all Maine West fans to wear gold as a show of support.