Mustangs holding tight
Downers Grove South cruised to the West Suburban Gold championship last season and appreciated every second of it.
"I think people just took it for granted and maybe we overlooked the importance of winning the conference," said Mustangs coach John Belskis. "It was important to the kids to win the conference last year."
While the Mustangs always have had tradition on their side, they hadn't won the Gold title since 2003. It was a stunning drought considering they won the title in 18 of the previous 20 seasons.
Well, Downers South is definitely back.
Eleven starters return, including eight on offense, as the Mustangs enter the season favored to repeat their 6-0 run through the Gold. After winning by an average margin of nearly 32 points a year ago, similar dominance could happen again.
"It's still the same old, same old," said Willowbrook coach Mark Olson. "Everyone's still chasing Downers."
They'll start by chasing junior quarterback Chandler Whitmer, who threw for nearly 1,300 yards and 18 touchdowns against only 3 interceptions last year. Leading receiver Wes Manzer and third-year starting tailback Scottie Williams also return.
If the Mustangs can build around three returning defensive starters, they'll be tough to beat.
Beyond Downers South is a jumble of teams. Willowbrook and Leyden also made the playoffs last year, but both suffered tremendous graduation losses.
Only four starters return for Willowbrook, including lineman Dan Rispens and running back-cornerback Steven Frobel, both two-way players. Leyden, despite the graduation of running back Josh Serrano, should still be strong on the ground with junior Angel Maldonado.
Injuries riddled Addison Trail's disappointing 2007 season. But with running backs Mike D'Ambrose, who rushed for 700 yards in only six games, and Frank Cervantes, the Blazers could find themselves in the Gold mix.
The running game is also Hinsdale South's strength in its second year under head coach Alex Bitto. Jonathan Sterling and Darrin Kidd are back behind an experienced offensive line powered by Dane DeKing and Cody Kuhlman.
"There are a bunch of us that are in a cluster in the middle of the pack in that second tier," Bitto said. "If any of us can get Downers, it'd be huge. But they're stacked."
Not that anyone's automatically conceding the title to Downers South.
Even Proviso East - with an incredibly athletic team featuring Illinois-bound junior receiver Cory Cooper, running back Darnell Swanigan and quarterback William Crowder - poses a threat.
But with Downers South poised to stay on its roll, everyone else may end up playing for second place.
"It's always been my opinion that you're the champs until you're dethroned," said Addison Trail coach Paul Parpet. "After Downers South, everyone else will be pretty even."
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