PSL won't overlook Wheaton Academy

Welcome back, Wheaton Academy.

The Warriors will play varsity football for the first time since 1989, re-entering play in the Private School League.

You know what? They might just hang tough.

"I know it's their first year of varsity, but I think Wheaton's going to be competitive in our league," said Chicago Christian coach Mark Vander Kooi. "They've got some kids who are hungry and I think they've got a good coaching staff."

What they don't have is lots of experience against the likes of Chicago Christian, which has won the last five PSL titles and is 42-10 overall in that span.

Chicago Christian, Walther Lutheran and Aurora Christian -- who combined to outscore Wheaton Academy 102-20 in the Warriors' preparatory schedule in 2006 -- will vie for the conference title.

"Those are the teams that we want to measure ourselves against," said Wheaton Academy coach Ben Wilson, whose junior varsity squad went 3-4, 2-1 on frosh-soph.

Warriors sophomore quarterback Brian Pell, the team's leading offensive force in 2006, will measure his progress against the likes of Jordan Roberts, the Aurora Christian junior who has great help in back John Smith and wideout Mike Friend.

Or all-conference Chicago Christian quarterback Alex Haan, who in his career has thrown 35 touchdown passes to just 6 interceptions.

Walther Lutheran fields a running back, Dan Green, who is committed to Miami of Ohio. As a junior he ran for 1,300 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Wilson said one goal is to gain respect from the top three, but he'd also like to upend Luther South and Luther North, Lake Forest Academy and improving Rockford Christian Life.

"Out of those seven games," he said, "if we went 4-3 in conference I would be very happy."