Counting down to 2025 kickoff: Scouting the MSL East

Buffalo Grove

Last season: 2-7

Coach: Jeff Vlk

Worth noting: After three consecutive trips to the playoffs, the Bison slipped last season and was unable to qualify. But Buffalo Grove is hoping to pay dividends from last year’s struggles with the 8 sophomores that started. With those, Buffalo Grove returns 13 starters this season. …The Bison should be especially strong defensively. The linebacking corps of Aiden Vazquez, David Graham and Matthew Kaput all return as does most defensive line in Owen Erickson, Jack Carroll and Drew Carrison while Jordan Alcantar will step in to be the fourth. Preston Herda returns to the secondary while Cole Diaz, who was injured last year, but still saw some time, will also return. Matthew Hong and Andrew Lee will be the other half. …Kaput, who saw plenty of action in the backfield last season, will be the featured back this year with Exekiel Mason available as well. …Lee and Landon Durham are the main cogs at wide receiver while Brysian Aki moves from the defensive line to tight end. Grady Boeche, who saw work at quarterback at the end of last season, will be the signal caller this year. …Joey Goduto returns at center for the offensive line. He will get help from guards Erickson and Ethan Lebron along with tackles Carrison and Caroll.

Hersey

Last season: 6-4

Coach: Tom Nelson

Worth noting: After a pair of MSL titles in a row, the Huskies stumbled a bit last season. Key injuries and players not coming out for the team were some of the culprits. But Hersey feels that it can rebound this season thanks in part to six players who have college offers. …Leading the way will be RB/DB Brandon Jenkins who is committed to Ohio University. The 6-foot, 190-pound senior, who runs a 4.55 40, was the MSL East Player of the Year with 1,865 all-purpose yards and 17 touchdowns…Junior Jake Nawrot (6-5, 190) takes over at quarterback. Despite limited varsity experience, Nawrot has a trio of Division I offers including one from Purdue. …Jack Nolan (6-4, 240) also has three D-1 offers. He will anchor the offensive line with Ehren Dammann (6-1, 260) and Ben Zebron (6-1, 205), who started every game last season as a sophomore. …The Huskies also return a trio of wide receivers in Tyler Wentink, who led the team in receiving in four games last year, junior Josh Riggs and Luke Casey. Tight end Tillman Mulder also returns. …The Huskies will have quite a few players going both ways with Mulder, Zebron and Dammann both playing defensive line along with Bernard Ehrabor. Jenkins, Wentink, Riggs and Casey will make up the defensive backfield. Cheydon Georgacakis will be at linebacker.

Elk Grove

Coach: Daniel O’Donnell

Last season: 4-5

Worth noting: The Grenadiers are looking to get off to a much better start than last season. That slow start — the Grens lost their first three games, one by a single point and another by a touchdown — cost them a playoff spot. Elk Grove has been to the playoffs just once (2022) in the last 9 playoff seasons. …Elk Grove will have a solid foundation this season with 11 starters back. And the Grens will just have one player going both ways which could provide huge dividends as the season progresses. …Three of the defensive front four returns in DE Ethan Otano, who was all-conference last season, along with DT Trevor Detloff and Chase McCormick. Dom Wesolowski will be at the other defensive end. ...Kaleb Avalos will be back at linebacker and will be joined by junior Griffin Ewen and sophomore Connor Marmitt. Maurion Smith and Eli Woehler are back to help lock down the secondary while Jacob Bruford and Danniell Halilovic have earned the other starting spots. …Bruford will be the only player going both ways with the sophomore handling the running back duties. Nate Dean will step in as the quarterback this season as the Grens replace both of their key offensive positions thanks to graduation. WR Ryan Tanner is the only returning skill player on offense. He will be joined by wide receivers Matt DiMaria and Joe Acino along with TE Nick Kovac. … Odisho Odisho and Ignacio Taboada are back to key the offensive line. They will be joined by Adrian Medina, Jan Kuc and Ben Logsdon.

Prospect

Coach: Dan DeBoeuf

Last season: 8-3

Worth noting: The Knights won the MSL East outright, ending Hersey’s two-year reign. Prospect had last won the conference title in 2021 when it tied Buffalo Grove. With 12 starters back, six on both offense and defense, the Knights have many pieces in place for a repeat title. But the key will be in the most important skill positions. New QB Jackson Cacini and new RB Matthew Donnelly, who are both juniors, will be integral in the success of the offense…A big advantage for both will be that they get to operate behind a huge offense line. Shea Lewis (6-foot-6, 255 pounds) and Joe Morales (6-1, 265) return to anchor the line of that will also have Liam McDonnell (6-1, 250), Owen Dewey (6-3, 230) and Danny Simon (6-5, 235). Prospect opponents will be forced to shut down one of the best receiving corps in the state as all four Knight wideouts played last season. Nate Cichy, who is committed to Harvard, is joined by Lucas Deines, Jacob Sutton and Gordy Kemp. …While opponents will be looking to slow the passing attack, the Prospect secondary, which will get plenty of reps against their offense in practice, is already geared up. Seniors Jackson Parrish, Will Fiddler and Joe Lobue will get help from Anthony D'Angelo and Caden Moran. …Charlie Letzig and Connor Curran will help anchor the Knights’ three-man front along with Collin Fouch while LB Ben Galbreath will join Jacob Pepsnik and Brock Wrede.

Rolling Meadows

Last season: 5-5

Coach: Devonte Amos

Worth noting: Former Mustang player Amos takes over as head coach and is looking to return Meadows to its previous glory days. Amos is building a new coaching staff. That group will inherit 17 starters from last season, when the Mustangs went to the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. …The Mustangs return Luke Harvey at running back. Harvey was part of a trio of running backs last season but should get most of the carries this season. …Joe Brigham, who threw for over 1,200 yards his sophomore season, is back in the starting role this year. He will have Naval Academy commit TE Sean Kerr to throw to as well as returning receivers Shea Wells, Jack Andersen and Arman Lepuzanovic. …Om Varma, Jack Rappa and Noah Brickman also are back to anchor the offensive line. …Rappa, along with his brother Josh, will be at linebacker along with Jake Ganatos and Aiden Gallucci. Kerr, who has started since his sophomore season, will be at defensive end along with DL Fredrick Hamilton and DE Luis Carrillo. The secondary should be strong with returnees Keeling Murray, Lepuzanovic, Andersen, and Evan Gonzales.

Wheeling

Last season: 2-7

Coach: Ryan Gronwick

Worth noting: Gronwick becomes the fourth head coach in the last six seasons for the Wildcats. But despite that and the fact that Wheeling has not been to the playoffs since 2016, there is cause for optimism. …First, numbers are on the rise in the program, especially in the lower levels. Also, the Wildcats’ schedule in the first four weeks has plenty of opportunities for Wheeling victories. Only Hoffman Estates was a playoff team while Oak Lawn, Niles North and Maine East were a combined 5-22. The Wildcats also return 7 starters from last season… Christian Campos will start at quarterback while Nick Montesinos will be at running back. Both are seniors along with TE Mike Krakowski. Damian Maldonado and Pablo Morales, who also are seniors, will key the offensive line while junior James Lawson will be major factor at wide receiver. …The Wildcats are short on depth as Christian Campos (LB), Maldonado (DL), Morales (DL), Montesinos (LB), Krakowski (TE) and Lawson (DB) will all be going both ways. Eduardo Juarez (DL) also figures to be starting on defense.

Five players to watch:

Jackson Cacini, Prospect, QB, Jr. — Another in a great line of quarterbacks for the Knights

Jason Cichy, Prospect, WR, Sr. — Committed to Harvard

Brandon Jenkins, Hersey, RB, Sr. — Committed to Ohio University

Sean Kerr, Rolling Meadows, TE/DE, Sr. — Committed to the Naval Academy

Jake Nawrot, Hersey, QB, Jr. — Has three D-1 offers

Five games worth seeing: Week 1: Warren at Hersey; Week 2: Hersey at Barrington, Prospect at Palatine; Week 5: Rolling Meadows at Elk Grove; Week 8: Prospect at Hersey