Z-B's Rice gets ready for rough Lake ride
Coaching football at Lake Forest College for eight years made Kelly Rice quite familiar with high school football in Illinois.
He knew exactly where to go to find the best players and the best teams. And often, it wasn't far from his own backyard.
He was always partial to the neighboring North Suburban Conference Lake Division, which seems fitting now considering that he's the new head coach at Zion-Benton.
"There' s no question in my mind that the North Suburban Lake is the best conference in the state," Rice said. "There are a couple of Catholic leagues that are really impressive and a couple of Class 7A conferences that are tough. But from top to bottom, the North Suburban Lake is stacked. There are no weak teams.
"That's one of the reasons I took this job. The competition in this league is as good as it gets."
Rice does have a point.
In the last five years, a North Suburban Conference Lake Division team has been in a state title game four times, with Libertyville winning the Class 7A state championship in 2004.
Stevenson got the ball rolling in 2002, Libertyville made its first trip in 2003 and Lake Zurich went to Champaign last November and finished as the Class 7A runner-up to St. Rita.
Given some of the talent that is again spread from team to team, it wouldn't be much of a surprise if the division was represented in yet another state title game come November.
For starters, Lake Zurich seems very well equipped for a return trip to Champaign.
The Bears return a total of 13 starters from a team that went 12-2 in coach Bryan Stortz's first year.
Quarterback Matt Blanchard and running back Kyle Skarb, two of last year's biggest stars, might be gone, but a trio of dangerous running backs are champing a the bit.
Jon Janus, Adam Simpson and Dan Kalcsics were tough to bring down last year as juniors and have only gotten stronger and hungrier.
"They've got to be the frontrunner," Mundelein coach Dave Whitson said of Lake Zurich and its chances for the Lake Division crown. "They've got so many guys back from a state team. They've got a nice thing going right now."
Stevenson and Libertyville have had a nice thing going for more than a decade now.
And as usual, both teams will assume their regular positions among the division's elite.
Stevenson's defense is quick and its offense will be tough to stop with three solid running backs -- Geoffrey Matthews, Matt Harris and Steve Haynes -- on board.
Libertyville loses one of the best players in its history, quarterback Ryan Kennedy, but should be just as potent out of the Wing-T with veteran backs like Tim Matheson, Doug Houser, Joey Schlesinger and Skyler Shaw leading the way.
"Stevenson and Libertyville always have nice teams," Warren coach Dave Mohapp said. "And with Lake Zurich, they just have so many kids back. Given the experience they had last year, I'm sure they'll be eager to build off that.
"After that, I think it's kind of up for grabs."
Figure Mohapp's team to be among the highest jumpers.
Warren has been playing at Stevenson and Libertyville's level for quite some time now, but is coming off a rare down year. Last season, the Blue Devils failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
Mohapp welcomes back only five starters, but is optimistic about some fresh new running backs, including sophomore Greg Kennedy as well as Aaron Dahlke, Darrien Pitts and Ron Brown.
Meanwhile, Mundelein should be strong. Literally.
The Mustangs went 2-7 last year but return seven starters on offense and six on defense, including two linemen who are getting Division I looks -- 6-foot-4, 286-pound Joe Semple and 6-foot, 265-pound Sean Santiago.
"I think teams like Mundelein and Lake Forest will be much improved," Libertyville coach Randy Kuceyeski said. "The league is going to be even more balanced this year."
Lake Forest is coming off a playoff appearance and returns nine starters, including six on offense. Four of those veterans make their home on the offensive line.
But perhaps the biggest weapon offensively is senior wide receiver Kevin Finney. At 6-foot-6, he's one of the most intriguing options in the league.
"Our balance is going to be our biggest strength," Lake Forest coach Chuck Spagnoli said. "We've got solid players on both sides of the ball and we really won't have to play anyone two ways. We haven't ever had that luxury."
At Zion-Benton, Rice is busy implementing a new system, which he says will still showcase the program's traditional strength of speed.
Running backs Quintrell Love and Kenny Davis fit right in.
"The kids have responded well to what we're putting in," Rice said. "We're not going to blow people off the ball. We're going to be as wide-open as we can get.
"I'm hoping that some of the things we were able to do at the Division III level (at Lake Forest College), we can do here."
North Suburban Lake
Predicted order of finish (with last year's record)
1. Lake Zurich (12-2)
2. Stevenson (8-3)
3. Libertyville (10-1)
4. Warren (4-5)
5. Mundelein (2-7)
6. Lake Forest (5-5)
7. Zion-Benton (1-8)