Suburban Christian Conference tough throughout

The Suburban Christian Conference is primed to flex its muscle. Again.

Last season the large-school SCC Blue advanced four playoff teams, including the Class 5A champion Montini Broncos.

Now Montini, St. Francis, Marmion and Marian Central welcome newcomer Walther Lutheran and trade out Aurora Central Catholic for 2009 SCC Gold winner Aurora Christian.

"I pick Marmion," 32nd-year Montini coach Chris Andriano said of the defending Blue champion.

"The league is very balanced. Any one of four teams, I believe, could end up on top to tell you the truth. There'll be some wars."

Amazingly, the only SCC Blue war Montini won last year was against Aurora Central before going 5-0 in the biggest battles.

The champions return 1,000-yard receiver Jordan Westerkamp, a junior already bearing a scholarship offer from Illinois, fellow junior receiver in Anthony Taylor, three-year starters linebacker Alex Walters and defensive tackle Ross Ferraro, and leading tackler Doug Diedrick, among others.

Andriano has a point, though. Marmion is big on the line with 6-foot-7, 295-pound Graham Glasgow and 6-3, 275 Jake Winkel at offensive tackle. The Cadets return SCC Blue MVP T.J. Lally at running back and linebacker plus many skill spots on both sides of the ball, like quarterback Bobby Peters. Marmion's juniors went 8-1 as sophomores, losing only to unbeaten South Elgin in Week 1.

"We know we surprised them last year and we know we're on their radar screen," said Marmion coach Dan Thorpe, 9-2 last season.

Crafty St. Francis coach Greg Purnell, whose Spartans won the 2008 5A title, returns quarterback Colin O'Donnell, big defensive linemen Jack Porter and Nick Pfeiffer and back Bobby Miller, who ran for 729 yards and 11 touchdowns last fall.

"The three 'M's' always are going to be tough to beat," Purnell said. "And I think Aurora Christian and Wheaton Academy are making a great impact on the conference."

Wheaton Academy pulled off one of the 2009 playoffs' biggest upsets, a No. 16 seed beating No. 1 Hillcrest in 5A. Coach Ben Wilson wants more. He'll try to get it out of three-year starter Kai Libby and new quarterback Tommy Decker.

"Our goal this year is to win the SCC Gold," Wilson said. "That's kind of the next step for us. There hasn't been a conference champion in football since 1958."

Aurora Christian coach Don Beebe noted that in the Blue he was hoping to do what both Montini and Immaculate Conception done - eke out 5 wins then steamroll to a title. IC will play looser in the second year under coach Mike Alberts - while Aurora Central turns a page with 2001 graduate Brian Casey replacing Hall of Famer Mike Curry.

Regarding impact, though, it's hard to beat St. Edward coach Mike Rolando, who last year led this ex-doormat to the playoffs for the second time in 26 seasons.

"Coach Ro's" returnees include Division I prospects quarterback Ben Lehman and lineman Evan Finnane plus 6-3 receiver Sam Pozezinski. Armed with juniors who were 9-0 as sophs, the Green Wave seeks the Gold title and a home playoff game.

"I would say probably everyone's chasing St. Ed's," Alberts said.