Big 3 still ones to beat in SCC
It's hard to pick against a seven-time defending state champion. It's hard to go against a four-year starting quarterback who will play at Wisconsin.
The best thing to do in contemplating the Suburban Catholic Conference champion is attend the Oct. 17 game in Addison, when defending conference champ Driscoll hosts 2006 champ Marian Central in Week 8.
Hold it, buster, the folks in Lombard will say. What about Week 9 - Oct. 25, Driscoll at Montini?
Driscoll, Montini and Marian Central proudly hold court in the SCC. But with Immaculate Conception beefed up, St. Francis returning a promising offense, Marmion coming on strong and even St. Edward showing some swagger, the class line, at least in 2008, isn't as definitive.
"People always say it's the 'Big Three' and then everybody else," said new Driscoll coach Brandon New. "I don't think that's the case."
They'll have to prove it. Driscoll doesn't return a ton from the team that outscored its 2007 opponents 559-184, but the Highlanders didn't for either of their last two state championship teams.
New quarterback Steven Schwabe - kid brother of last year's all-state signalcaller David Schwabe - has returning linemen Andrew O'Reilly and Mike Labadessa to throw behind, and college prospect Austin Baker and returnees Clay Cooper and Joey Calabrese to target. Junior Nick Campanella was the top player on Driscoll's sophomore team last season; he'll fill the "X-factor" role Driscoll uses so well to confuse opposing defenses.
The Highlanders' defense returns four starters, two on the line and two in the secondary. A key to Driscoll's success is its advance scouting, which lets its defense know what's coming before the ball is snapped. That shouldn't change.
Marian Central coach Ed Brucker deserves tons of credit for getting deep playoff runs with about two dozen players. This year he has 25 varsity players.
"We have some quality," he said, "we just don't have the quantity."
What he has, aside from all-conference safety Adam Olson, returning receiver Andrew Stochl, 285-pound two-way lineman Cody O'Neill and a handful of other returnees, is quarterback Jon Budmayr, who enters his fourth season with a reported 5,172 yards passing, 38 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. The Wisconsin recruit also had offers from the likes of Arizona and Notre Dame.
With the usual slim numbers, Budmayr may be forced to beat teams by himself. He's capable of doing just that.
Montini, which beat Marian in the 2007 regular season then lost to the Hurricanes in the Class 5A playoffs, returns only two starters from its galaxy of stars. It's a good thing one of them is quarterback Tom DiCristina.
That exodus of talent leaves the door cracked for the likes of St. Francis, Marmion or Immaculate Conception to barge through.
St. Francis coach Greg Purnell returns nearly 1,700 yards rushing between backs Mark Kachmer and Stan Bobowski, plus quarterback Jeff Reckards and its top two tacklers in 2007, Ryan Ferguson and Ryan O'Donnell. New lights will add to the excitement.
This may be one of those years Immaculate Conception finishes fourth in the SCC, then enjoys a deep playoff run. The Knights return experience across both lines, have a returning quarterback and two big talents in lineman Matt Purdom and linebacker Antonio Taylor.
"They're definitely going to knock somebody off," Montini coach Chris Andriano said. "I hope it's not us."
While Aurora Central Catholic will go only as far as quarterback Mike Adams can take them, St. Edward coach Mike Rolando has 18 returning starters including all-conference four-year starter Moises Quiroga at running back and linebacker. Like IC, St. Edward averages 250 across the offensive line.
Rolando still sticks with the old standbys in his prediction: Driscoll, Marian Central, Montini. IC coach Bill Schmidt agrees.
"Driscoll, until somebody dethrones them, they're always going to be in the mix if not the favorite," Schmidt said. "I think Marian's going to be the best."
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Video</h2> <ul class="video"> <li><a href="/multimedia/?category=19&type=video&item=65">Week 1 prep preview </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>