Title there for the taking

Those in the know don't seem to know who will emerge as the best in Mid-Suburban West football.

"I have no clue," said Fremd coach Mike Donatucci, whose program has won outright or shared the last six West titles.

"Honestly, I have no idea," said Palatine coach Tyler Donnelly, whose team shared the West crown with Fremd.

"I would say it would be wide open," said Conant coach Bill Modelski, whose team just missed giving the West five playoff qualifiers last year. "It's strange but I can't tell you who's going to be good."

Primarily because everyone lost a lot of talent and will have a new starting quarterback.

"Last year in the West was the year of the quarterback," said Barrington coach Joe Sanchez. "This year it's wide open."

Palatine graduated three-year starting quarterback Matt Rossi, but junior Cody Bobbit steps in and moves from receiver. The offensive line has size and experience and linebackers Joe Pelnar and Phil Brand return to an athletic defense.

Fremd will rely heavily on its big offensive line led by Notre Dame-bound Christian Lombard and juniors Brian Bobek and Jack Konopka to give Evan Wright room to use his speed.

The defense is led by an experienced secondary as the Vikings try to become the first MSL team in history to win seven straight division titles.

"You have to put Fremd up there with Lombard and Evan Wright," Sanchez said.

"I'll pick Fremd to win until somebody else does," said Schaumburg coach Mark Stilling. "But Palatine will be pretty good."

Schaumburg hopes to pick up from last year's run to the 8A quarterfinals. All-area captain and quarterback Anthony Iannotti is at Northern Iowa, but his junior brother Mark takes over and has plenty of speed at his disposal in Dionte Hackler and Warren Brewer.

Nose tackle Dan Malik and inside linebacker Pat Derbak bring experience on defense.

Barrington was also hit hard by graduation but hopes to continue its tradition of reloading rather than rebuilding.

Senior Terrance Terry will be throwing the ball after running and catching it his first two years. The Broncos will have their traditional big men up front and third-year starter Cody Seeger moves from cornerback to safety.

Conant has an unusual amount of size up front on offense with junior Kenny Kalish (6-feet-5, 340 pounds) and senior Nathan Benedetti (5-11, 317) giving senior quarterback Rico Prestia time. Third-year varsity starter and inside linebacker Otto Linderman anchors the defense.

Hoffman also lost a lot to graduation but returns tailback Foyin Alade and leading scorer and slotback Shammar McFarland.

Junior quarterback David Gutierrez started eight games in the secondary last year and left tackle Jacob Uhunmwangho (6-4, 285) leads an experienced line.

"We're at the point where these kids are ready to get over the hump," said Hoffman coach Bill Helzer. "They're hungry."