NSC needs to watch out for Lake Forest
The North Suburban Conference's Lake Division boasts a Notre Dame-bound quarterback for the first-time ever.
The question is, can Lake Forest's talented Tom Rees help the Scouts take a vertical leap in the division standings?
It won't be easy.
Since the NSC split into the Lake and Prairie divisions in 2000, the highest Lake Forest has finished was a tie for third in 2001.
Rees will enter his third varsity season with a supporting cast that includes wide receiver Connor Moutvic, offensive lineman Colton Kunde and defensive lineman Charlie Murphy.
Rees and Moutvic both earned all-conference honors as juniors. The 6-foot-3, 192-pound Rees gave a verbal commitment to Notre Dame in July, turning down offers from Stanford and Tennessee.
"We are very happy for Tommy," Lake Forest coach Chuck Spagnoli said. "I am sure he will have a great career in college, and we look forward to seeing him have a special senior year."
Once again, the NSC Lake's big four - Lake Zurich, Libertyville, Stevenson and Warren - figure to be the teams to beat, unless Rees and his teammates prove they're a legitimate contender.
The Scouts do own wins over Libertyville in 2007 and Warren in 2006 and 2001.
Defending NSC Lake champ Warren welcomes back junior running back Tom Lindal, who rushed for 1,308 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior, and an old/new face. Senior Greg Kennedy gained 1,144 yards and scored 15 TDs as a sophomore but did not attend Warren last school year after being involved in an off-the-field incident.
"I don't know if they're going to have enough footballs for those two kids," Mundelein coach Bob Stone said of Kennedy and Lindal.
Libertyville looks loaded with some good running backs, as well, along with Western Michigan-bound offensive tackle Jon Hoffing (6-4, 275). Back in the backfield for the Wildcats are Division-I prospect James Zotto, Kevin Penny and Nick McDowell. Junior A.J. Schurr starts at quarterback. Zotto, an all-conference and all-area pick last year, and Penny also will start on defense.
"From what I've seen, I think Libertyville is going to have a heck of a year," Warren coach Dave Mohapp said.
Want more good running backs?
How about the ones at Stevenson?
The Patriots have a D-I recruit in Air Force-bound fullback Mark Weisman, who rushed for 1,149 yards as a junior. Matt Harris also runs the ball effectively, while 6-5 junior Kevin Earl takes over at quarterback with at least one potential game-breaker receiver in 6-3 Nate Johnson.
Renowned for producing big, talented offensive linemen, Stevenson doesn't disappoint this season. The Patriots will run behind veteran junior Michael Crowley (6-3, 250) and senior Justin Fauntleroy (6-5, 260).
Weisman starts on defense, too, along with fellow linebacker Brion Wood, who started as a sophomore last year.
It was only two years ago that Lake Zurich went 13-1 en route to winning the Class 7A state championship. The Bears made the playoffs for the seventh straight year in 2008, but were disappointed in an opening-round loss to St. Charles East.
The Bears bring back senior quarterback Peter Rantis, along with running backs Jacob Brinlee and Devian Ruiz. The big body on the offensive line is 6-3, 280-pound Collin Lennon.
An experienced Lake Zurich defense will include Andy Blechschmidt, Kevin Gratys, Robby Wilson and J.J. Raffelson.
Mundelein begins its second season under Stone and has its quarterback back in Brian Santiago.
Zion-Benton will be under the direction of first-year coach Robert Strickland.