Talking with ‘Edgy’ Tim: On Vander Luitgaren, public school hope and other prep football tidbits from Week 1

The Daily Herald is debuting a new feature highlighting prep football in the area.

Every week, sports writer Kevin Schmit will talk with Rivals guru “Edgy” Tim O’Halloran and get his thoughts on the latest gridiron news. Teams, players, trends, pet peeves … everything is on the table for Talking with “Edgy” Tim.

This edition delves into Batavia senior quarterback Michael Vander Luitgaren, public school football, tidbits from Week 1 and Edgy’s plans for Week 2.

Kevin Schmit: Vander Luitgaren, who’s committed to Wyoming, completed 28 of 35 passes for 436 yards and five touchdowns in last week’s win over Maine South. Does he belong in the same conversation with upper-echelon senior quarterbacks from the area like Montini’s Israel Abrams (Miami, Fla.), Hersey’s Jake Nawrot (Kentucky) and Maine South’s Jameson Purcell (Indiana)?

Edgy Tim: I think from a production standpoint he makes a great case for being with the upper guys. But part of the problem is there’s only so many of those guys who can get those (Power Four) scholarships. It’s never been harder to get those scholarships. Getting to know (Vander Luitgaren) the last couple of years, I’d be surprised if he didn’t feel he belonged.

I think he has the ability and the tools to be able to compete at that level, but Wyoming could end up being a very good thing for him. In the era of the portal, you go to a Wyoming, you get seen early and the next thing you know you’re not at Wyoming.

He’s highly productive. I think he has the mental and the physical side of the game. I think he doesn’t have the size of an Izzy or some of the others. And a lot of times, that’s what it comes down to with those scholarships.

KS: Hersey beat Carmel, Lincoln-Way East beat Brother Rice and East St. Louis beat Mount Carmel in Week 1. Do those results offer hope to public schools that private schools won’t dominate the playoffs this season?

ET: Yeah, a little bit. I saw both Lincoln-Way East and East St. Louis last weekend so I got a bird’s-eye view of both. And both executed. They played relatively clean games, didn’t turn the ball over, didn’t have a lot of penalties.

What it comes down to is the talent level at Mount Carmel and Brother Rice is extremely high, probably higher than I can ever remember. It still doesn’t mean you’ll be able to execute and win games. And that’s kind of what the case was. I think Brother Rice and Mount Carmel are going to get better as the year goes along, and they’ll be dangerous by Week 9 and the playoffs like last year.

I think it’s a good message to say, you can have all the talent in the world. But if you don’t go out and execute and do what you’re supposed to do, you could lose. And that’s exactly what I saw from Mount Carmel and Brother Rice. They didn’t do things as well as they should or could, and they paid the price and lost games.

It’s about picking it up from here. How much better will they get from here?

KS: What Week 1 games stood out for you within the Daily Herald coverage area?

ET: How about the (DuPage Valley Conference) going 0-6? That was eye-catching. Absolutely surprising. If you want to throw others in the mix, DuKane 7-1 and West Suburban Silver 7-0.

But the DVC really caught my eye. Naperville North, Naperville Central, the Neuquas and the Waubonsies … at one point they were powers. And we’re not that far removed from that, but the last couple seasons haven’t been good.

You have well-established programs, you’ve got communities that are football crazy. Veteran, very good coaches who know what they’re doing and have a proven track record. I don’t know what it is the last couple years, if it’s a talent drought, but it just hasn’t been very good.

And in the Mid-Suburban League, I’m already expecting two undefeated teams when Hersey plays Prospect in Week 9. Those two have been by far the best teams in the East, and it’s always a fun game.

KS: Where are you headed for Week 2?

ET: I am way too intrigued to see Montini play Sandburg on Friday. (Class) 8A school Sandburg against little school Montini. It should be a good matchup.

Saturday I’ll be at lovely Duchon Field on the shores of Lake Ellyn to watch Glenbard West play St. Rita. It’ll be like a cage match. You can’t miss that.

And then Saturday night I’ll see Joliet Catholic hosting Sacred Heart-Griffin.