Everyone taking aim at Geneva

An impressive five Western Sun Conference football teams qualified for the playoffs last year, but one team stood above the rest.

Look for Geneva to lead the way again in 2008.

After going 11-1 last season and advancing to the Class 7A quarterfinals, the Vikings reload with a talented group ready to repeat their unbeaten roll through the WSC.

Heading the list of Geneva's returners is running back Michael Ratay, who rushed for more than 1,700 yards and accounted for 34 touchdowns, including 12 during their postseason run. Combined with a dominant defense with linemen Cory Hofstetter and Frank Boenzi and linebacker Brennan Quinn, Geneva is primed to defend its league title.

"On paper they're ahead of everyone," said Glenbard South coach Dan Starkey. "I'd say they're definitely the front-runner."

Four teams - Glenbard South, Batavia, Rochelle and Sycamore - tied for second in the Western Sun last year. Expect the same type of parity this season.

Glenbard South, one of the five 2007 playoff qualifiers, may be the team most capable of challenging the Vikings. The Raiders return 12 starters - eight on offense and four all-conference defensive players.

Kevin Marshall is back at quarterback along with a slew of skill players and three offensive linemen. If they can find a replacement for graduated running back Mike Oratowski, the Raiders could be explosive offensively.

Linebackers Austin Teitsma and Louis Erkins, safety Ryan McKean and cornerback Kyle Slott lead the defense as returning all-Western Sun players.

Two years removed from a trip to the Class 6A title game, Batavia aims to push for the Western Sun title with its own talented offense. Quarterback Jordan Coffey returns, as does electric running back Bai Kabba.

"No question, our biggest strength is our offensive team," Batavia coach Mike Gaspari said.

Kaneland's goal is clear. After missing the playoffs to break a streak of 12 straight appearances, the Knights hope to use a strong run in the Western Sun to get them back in the postseason.

"There's a lot of tradition here and we expect to win," Kaneland coach Tom Fedderly said.

Sycamore, on the heels of its first playoff berth since 2002, and Rochelle, which hasn't missed the playoffs since 1997, add depth to the Western Sun.

"We get quality competition week in and week out," Starkey said.

Private School

Starting in the 2009-10 academic year, the nine schools that comprise the Suburban Catholic Conference, including girls-only Rosary, will welcome four newcomers to form the Suburban Christian Conference.

Along with Guerin Prep, the new conference will absorb Private School League members Wheaton Academy, Aurora Christian and Chicago Christian.

This fall, then, is the chance for PSL football teams to go out on top. Only a select few, though, can be considered to truly have that chance.

Aurora Christian, Chicago Christian and Walther Lutheran look to continue atop the league, with second-year program Wheaton Academy making strides as the Warriors try to surpass Rockford Christian Life, Lake Forest Academy, Luther North and Luther South.

"This is an opportunity to build some confidence in the program and get some wins," said Wheaton Academy coach Ben Wilson.

Seventeen returning starters and 20 Wheaton Academy seniors will try to build on their 2-7 season of a week ago. Where the Warriors were light on the line in 2007, now 10 linemen surpass 200 pounds. That'll make things easier on returning quarterback Brian Pell, but emphasis remains blocking for returning back Chris Reddick and stopping the run.

Walther Lutheran has returning all-conference running back Brandon Sims, who in particular hit Wheaton Academy hard. Coach Bruce Tuomi is adept at developing brute strength on the line.

Before Aurora Christian coach Don Beebe and Class 3A all-state quarterback Jordan Roberts started asserting themselves, Chicago Christian was the class of the conference. The Knights won five straight PSL titles until Aurora Christian dethroned them last season, and they enjoy an eight-year playoff run.

Chicago Christian graduated Class 4A all-state quarterback Alex Haan, but return a pair of all-conference wideouts in Andy Stuursma and Matt Hull, and all-conference linebacker Dan Merrick.

Aurora Christian is still the team to beat. Motivated by a 14-8 semifinal loss to eventual Class 3A state champ Plano - both are now in 4A - the Eagles are fueled by Roberts and program tackles leader Ryan Perik. Six returning players earned postseason PSL honors in 2007.

Beebe, 36-10 in five seasons, has called his defense the best he's had. He can easily say the same about Roberts, a four-year starter. According to Beebe, Roberts is less than 1,200 yards and just 14 touchdowns away from becoming the state record holder in both categories.

Wheaton Academy's Wilson concedes that Aurora Christian, Chicago Christian and Walther Lutheran are a "three-headed monster."

That's all he concedes.

"I'm expecting to finish probably fourth, but I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility (to finish higher)," he said.

- Dave Oberhelman

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