Expect another pulse-pounding thriller

A couple of coaches inadvertently compared the East Suburban Catholic Conference football race to an Oscar-winning movie.

"The usual suspects," said both Nazareth coach Tim Racki and St. Joseph coach Mark Zavagnin about who they figure will contend for the title.

One of the scenarios that eliminated some of the drama was the seven-game schedule. St. Viator and Joliet Catholic didn't play each other and ended up as co-champions.

They figure to be battling for the crown again from afar with Carmel hoping to be right in the mix as it does play both the Lions and Hilltoppers.

Joliet Catholic looks to bounce back from a "down" year where it finished 6-4.

Senior linebacker Nick Clancy (6-foot-3, 220 pounds) is a Division I prospect. Quarterback John Ruettiger (968 yards passing, 9 TDs) has options that include backs Brandon Geiss (914 yards) and Tyler Hudetz (797 yards) behind all-ESCC lineman Joe Minor.

St. Viator wants to continue its upward mobility of consecutive 9-win seasons and three straight playoff berths.

The Lions lost a lot at the skill positions but have Division I offensive line recruit Emmett Cleary and Matt O'Malley back on both sides of the ball. Mike Landuyt moves from fullback to tailback and Eric Huber goes from wide receiver to quarterback, where he played on the underlevels.

"It's OK if the kids expect (success) as long as they work hard to get it," said Viator coach Chris Kirkpatrick. "We're to the point now where we're not going to be sneaking up on anybody and people are going to be ready to play us.

"We can't afford to have a bad game because we're not talented enough to have a bad game. We've got to play well."

Some of Viator's best games the last three years have been against Carmel, which returns only quarterback David Venegoni and all-ESCC guard Mike Schafernak as offensive starters. Venegoni threw for 665 yards and 7 TDs and rushed for 468 yards and 8 TDs last year.

All-ESCC free safety Ryan Williams anchors a strong secondary but an inexperienced defense.

Marian Catholic has to replace one of the league's most potent threats in running back and co-ESCC offensive player of the year Cliffton Gordon. But 32nd-year coach Dave Mattio has a couple of nice building blocks up front in all-ESCC lineman Rich Wilson (6-2, 263) and tight end Dennis Kelly (6-9, 237).

"I think Marian is going to sneak up on some people," Zavagnin said.

Racki thinks the same of St. Patrick with Indiana-bound offensive lineman Justin Pagan (6-5, 295) and inside linebacker David Giese. Marist could also be in that category as its entire offensive line returns, led by Frank Kreuger and Bob Bullington.

Notre Dame has linebacker Bo Cisek and defensive back Brendan Murray back from a playoff qualifier.

Racki hopes to continue the building process in his third year at Nazareth with returning quarterback Phil Kaiser, third-year running back/receiver/defensive back Curtis Cannon and lineman Tim Anderson.

"There's a noticeable difference as far as understanding, especially on the defensive side of the ball," said Racki, in his third year after coming from Driscoll. "You can tell this year with the kids we have in the program going into their third year, they're aware of my expectations."

Benet also wants to get back to the playoffs in Gary Goforth's 20th year as coach. John Paul Payne is adept at directing the double wing and three-year starting defensive end Pete Schmick had a team-high 4 tackles for loss.

Zavagnin, a defensive coordinator at Nazareth and Marist, takes over a St. Joseph program that has lost 36 straight games and head coaches on an annual basis.

But Zavagnin hopes to bring stability and success to the perennial basketball power with senior wide receiver-safety David Oropeza and two-way lineman John Jenkins. The Chargers won't play a sophomore schedule this year with 11 from that class on their two-deep roster.

"We'll know we've taken a major step forward if other teams are preparing for us each week and not looking past us," Zavagnin said.

2006 standings

Conf. All

Joliet Catholic 6-1 6-4

St. Viator 6-1 9-2

Carmel 5-2 8-3

Marian Cath. 5-2 7-4

Benet 4-3 6-5

Notre Dame 3-4 5-5

Marist 2-5 3-6

Nazareth 2-5 3-6

St. Patrick 2-5 2-7

St. Joseph 0-7 0-9

2007 predicted order of finish: 1. Joliet Catholic, 2. St. Viator, 3. Carmel, 4. Marian Catholic, 5. St. Patrick, 6. Marist, 7. Notre Dame, 8. Nazareth, 9. Benet, 10. St. Joseph