Scouting the Glenbard East Rams
It's the proverbial, what-can-you-do-for-an-encore season.
It was a banner 2018 - Glenbard East's first conference title since 1965, first 10-win season in program history, a second playoff appearance and first since 1999.
After graduating 11 all-Upstate Eight players, including offensive player of the year Bret Bushka and defensive player of the year Anthony Shockey, what's on the agenda?
"It's real simple," coach John Walters said. "We want to be the first team in school history to make back-to-back playoff appearances."
Makes no difference that the Rams return only three full-time starters - receiver Deon Cook, right guard Connor Peterson and safety Jason Torrevillas, who intercepted 5 passes last fall.
Walters likes his next men up. He sounds ready to go up front offensively with three-year starter Peterson, senior Will Day and juniors Carlos Carbajal, Anthony Coco and Ben Wightkin. They average about 270 pounds.
Along with linebacker Doug Pham and defensive end Ilijaz Lemes, Coco and Wightkin earned late-season starts last year. Line size and factors such as fullback Sean Banks perhaps joining tailback Chris Whitehead in the backfield, plus a sophomore quarterback in IC Catholic transfer Connor Cerkas, hints at a ground-and-pound style. It'll be complemented by Cook, who last year caught 32 passes for 422 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Behind basically an all-new cast Glenbard East will be hard-pressed to outscore opponents 426-156 as in 2018. Still, the Rams remain among UEC favorites and will reboot behind exciting juniors like middle linebacker Danny Quirk and 6-foot-2 receiver Ladonus Rogers.
"We are young and athletic. We've got some dudes that can play. The bottom line is they haven't played with the lights on. So we're going to find out a lot about ourselves at 7:30 p.m.," Walters said.
One to watch: Bartlett visits Lombard in Week 2, a battle between two Upstate Eight Conference favorites.
The breakdown
Coach: John Walters (ninth year, 26-48; 10th overall, 28-55).
2018 record: 10-1, 9-0, first in the Upstate Eight Conference.
Top players: RB Sean Banks, jr.; QB Connor Cerkas, so.; WR Deon Cook, sr.; DL Ilijaz Lemes, jr.; OL Connor Peterson, sr.; LB Doug Pham, sr.; LB Danny Quirk, jr.; WR Ladonus Rogers, jr.; DB Jason Torrevillas, sr.; RB Chris Whitehead, sr.
- Dave Oberhelman
Schedule
Fri, Aug 30, Glenbard East at Elgin, 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Sep 6, Bartlett at Glenbard East, 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Sep 13, Glenbard East at West Chicago, 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Sep 20, Glenbard East at Fenton, 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Sep 27, South Elgin at Glenbard East, 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Oct 4, East Aurora at Glenbard East, 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Oct 11, Glenbard East at Streamwood, 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Oct 18, Glenbard South at Glenbard East, 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Oct 25, Larkin at Glenbard East, 7:30 p.m.