Does Valley belong to Cary-Grove?
If change is indeed good, 2009 should be a good year for football in the Valley Division of the Fox Valley Conference.
With the admission of the new Woodstock North High School, the FVC has undergone a division realignment. The Thunder will join the small-school Fox Division of the FVC, joined by Woodstock, which switches from the Valley Division. Growing Huntley, in turn, jumps up to the large-school Valley. The Fox Division will have seven teams, the Valley six.
Though some things change, one thing remains constant: Cary-Grove remains the team to beat in the Valley Division.
The Trojans, winners of five straight conference or division titles, are again the favorite, according to league coaches. The Trojans enter the season on a 33-game winning streak in league games, dating back to Week 9 of the 2003 season.
With an experienced, talent-laden backfield that features the area's leading returning rusher, senior fullback Eric Chandler (1,248 yards, 17 TDs), not to mention a bigger, more athletic offensive line than a year ago, the Trojans will attempt to fend off a stiff challenge from top rival Crystal Lake South, which returns several key members of its 2008 Class 7A semifinal team.
Crystal Lake South defeated the visiting Trojans in a state quarterfinal last season, repeating a trick it turned in 2005. However, the Gators have not been able to knock the Trojans from their perch in the regular season.
"Obviously, Cary-Grove is the team to beat until someone can knock them off in conference play," CL South coach Jim Stuglis said. "It's funny, we can't beat them in the conference but we've done it in the playoffs. It's just one of those things."
The Gators return bruising senior linebacker J.D. Barchard, nose guard Sam McCole, safety Alex Macaulay and fullback/linebacker Kameron Scott, among others. Despite the loss of an all-conference tailback due to a code violation, the offense should thrive behind a gigantic offensive line that averages 6 feet, 3 inches and 254 pounds.
Huntley will vie for its second straight playoff berth after sharing the Fox Division title with Prairie Ridge last season. The Red Raiders return third-year tight end Marcus Popenfoose (6-2, 245), one of the strongest players in the area, along with proven ground gainers in senior running backs Brett Kleckner and Tanner Stearns. That duo combined to gain 1,159 yards as juniors.
However, Huntley returns only one starting lineman on either side of the ball, offensive guard Mike Zermeno.
"The thing that concerns us about the large conference, as it should, is that it's stronger from top to bottom so you don't have that big breakaway like we did last year in the Fox when there were three good teams and a breakaway after that," Huntley coach Steve Graves said. "A lot of people are saying talent-wise that South could be the team to beat, but until somebody knocks Cary off the throne you're not going to choose them anywhere but the top spot."
Coach Dean Schlueter said Jacobs will move to an option-heavy offense from its traditional wing-T this season. The Golden Eagles finished 2-7 in 2008. Senior linebackers Brandon Huckabone and Ben Albano return to solidify the defense.
Dundee-Crown will attempt to retool with multiple juniors at key positions as the Chargers look for improvement over their 3-6 finish in 2008. Junior Tanner Kotlan takes over at quarterback.
McHenry quarterback Thomas Rose impressed at summer combines and will lead what promises to be a wide-open offensive attack.
"The division is going to be good," Cary-Grove coach Bruce Kay said. "There are a lot of good players who work hard. Huntley is coming off a great year and their school is now bigger than ours. We're still the smallest school in our division. And South is a given. They're working hard, and they've won the lower levels for a few years. It should be interesting."