Big beginning for Carmel in the ESCC
Those interested in seeing how the East Suburban Catholic Conference will shake out this football season need not wait.
Friday, Mundelein, 7:30 p.m. The game that could decide the ESCC title right quick, a clash between host Carmel and Joliet Catholic, teams that in 2007 reached the Class 7A semifinals and won Class 6A, respectively.
The ESCC might seem to be a two-horse race given that Carmel returns 10 starters from a squad that went 10-3 and Joliet Catholic is, well, Joliet Catholic.
"I think Joliet Catholic, you've always got to stay with them," said Benet coach Gary Goforth, who returns quarterback Jimmy Riley, two-way lineman Dan Schroeder, defensive end Victor Sadauskas and solid defensive backs Mike Vanchieri and burner Phil Schmidt.
"Their school is a football school. I actually believe their school would close its doors if it wasn't for football," Goforth quipped.
Carmel hopes to slam shut the Hilltoppers' chances with a Corsairs team that coach Andy Bitto said takes the field with confidence high.
Senior tight end Jack Baucus, bound for Arizona, heads a cast that includes senior Jackson Davenport, a 200-pound fullback who benches 340 pounds and runs a 4.5-second 40.
Joining the triple option will be 600-yard back Mike Taylor, running behind returning linemen Patrick Lyons and John Burandt. Safety Jake Sinkovec, with offers from Air Force and Navy, will get help from juniors who won the ESCC sophomore level.
Joliet Catholic returns only four starters, three from a defense that allowed only 59 points in conference. The key returner is returning all-ESCC running back Tyler Hudetz, who ran for 1,618 yards and 18 touchdowns a year ago.
Those graduated all-staters fool no one.
"As I say every year, it's Joliet Catholic until somebody knocks them off," said St. Patrick coach Dan Galante, who returns two way starter Adam Nitsche and quarterback Dan DiCanio. "I don't care how many people they lose."
Still, St. Pat's, Marian Catholic, Notre Dame, St. Viator, Marist, Benet, St. Joseph and the new darling, Nazareth, aren't going to quit.
Quickly gaining traction is Nazareth and Tim Racki, the ESCC's 2007 co-coach of the year with Notre Dame's Mike Hennessey. In his third season with the Roadrunners, Racki was at that point when he started winning state championships at Driscoll.
In big-time (like Florida) college prospect LaSteven McKinney, who ran for 1,431 yards and 22 touchdowns and added 4 more scores on kick returns, Nazareth has a back that will vie with Hudetz as the league's best.
"He's the real deal," Racki said.
Notre Dame and Marian Catholic each aim for return playoff spots and to boost their respective fourth- and fifth-place standing. Hennessey's son Eric takes over at quarterback for Notre Dame, while Marian Catholic returns seven starters including quarterback Evan Watson and defensive end Josh Forney.
Marist could make a splash. The RedHawks have a new coach, Pat Dunne but return five starters on each side of the ball. They include 900-yard back Bill Seiler, 6-foot-3 tight end Colin Monnier and 270-pound nose tackle Nabal Jefferson.
"It's very hard to tell where we'll end up," Dunne said.
Hopefully, St. Joseph coach Mark Zavagnin can be as positive. The Chargers have lost 45 straight games but return 13 starters - and the same coach for two straight years, which is a start.
As for St. Viator, coach Chris Kirkpatrick has one of the youngest squads in his tenure. Senior safety Dan Faerber heads a cast that includes junior quarterback Julian Sipiora and returning junior receiver Richard McLoughlin.
"It's probably the most unique situation I've been in, but it will be a good experience for us," Kirkpatrick said. "We're still very excited, and coming out people don't think we'll be very good so we have nothing to lose."