SCC looks loaded yet again
There has always been debate whether the best small-school conference in the state is the Big Northern or the Suburban Catholic.
Once again this year the answer to that question looks to be the Suburban Catholic, which features 4 players from teams who have committed to Division I schools. And don't forget the fact Driscoll won its record sixth straight state crown last year and Marian Central reached the Class 5A state title game.
Coach Ed Brucker's Hurricanes, who were rated No. 1 in the Associated Press Class 5A preseason poll released earlier this week, have just 24 players on the roster, but return 6 offensive and 4 defensive starters from last year's undefeated conference champion and state finalist.
Senior offensive tackle Sean Cwynar (6-foot-4, 290 pounds) is headed to Notre Dame. His commitment comes a year after graduated senior Bryan Bulaga committed to Iowa.
Cwynar will block for third-year starting junior quarterback Jon Budmayr (6-1, 185) and 1,100-yard senior back T.J. Pappas (5-9, 165). Budmayr is receiving interest from several Big Ten schools.
"Our strength will be our offensive guys coming back," said Brucker, who also led Woodstock High School to the 1997 Class 5A state title and is 3 wins shy of 100 for his career. "We'll have a solid line if nobody gets hurt. We have no depth."
Montini, ranked fourth in the AP Class 5A preseason poll, features 3 Division I recruits in two-way starter Dex Jones (verbal to Wisconsin), 290-pound lineman Chuck Porcelli (Northwestern) and 2-way lineman Garrett Goebel (Ohio State). Goebel is rated as one of the top 100 preps in the nation. Three-year starter Johnny Borsellino (5-8, 165) is also one of the league's top players.
"We expect to have a great year," said Montini's Hall of Fame coach Chris Andriano. "These guys were outstanding all the way through. Last year we had a great team, realy, and lost to a lot of good teams."
Class 4A preseason No. 1 Driscoll suffered numerous key graduations. The Highlanders return 6 starters, including senior running back Tim Franken, who rushed for 1,250 yards and 15 scores last year. Senior linebacker Kevin Palermo (6-2, 230) is also back, as is 3-year senior starter David Schwabe who takes over the quarterbacking chores. His first pass Friday in Rock Island will be his first high school attempt. On defense, Schwabe has 21 career interceptions (28 is the state record).
"We have a tremendous amount of confidence in ourselves," said Driscoll coach Mike Burzawa. "We understand we just have to come out and execute on both sides of the ball."
St. Edward has lost 20 games in a row dating back to Week 7 of the 2004 season. But the Green Wave, with only 5 seniors on a 25-player roster, returns 20 of 22 positions, headlined by players like seniors Nevin Bens (RB-FS) and Matt Ardiente (RB-DB), juniors Moises Quiroga (MLB-FB) and Ryan Eigenhauser (WR-DB). Senior quarterback Ryan Gilbert is a 3-year starter who threw for nearly 1,000 yards last year. Larkin transfer Jimmy Mathisen has 4.6 speed.
"Being junior dominated in this league isn't unusual," said second-year St. Edward coach Mike Rolando. "We can't cry that we're younger or use that as an excuse."
Immaculate Conception returns 15 starters, including senior running back Jonathon Ellis, who is drawing interest from some Big Ten and mid-major schools. Quarterback Kevin Koch is also back. IC's season-opening game Saturday night against Aurora Christian had to be moved to a field in Melrose Park due to the heavy rains that hit the area earlier in the week.
St. Francis has a new coach in Iowa Hall of Famer Greg Purnell -- who has been impressed with his team's skilled-position players.
Marmion and third-year coach Dan Thorpe will look to throw the ball a little more this year. The Cadets are led by senior defensive back-wide receiver Manny Juarez.
Aurora Central is led by the brother duo of Mike (junior QB) and Mark (senior WR) Adams.
"Driscoll, Montini and Woodstock (Marian) and the rest fight for scraps," is how veteran ACC coach Mike Curry sees the SCC race. "A couple of teams if nobody gets hurt can challenge for second and third, but I don't see anyone catching those teams."
"It doesn't take rocket science," St. Francis' Purnell said, "to see there's talent in this league."