Experienced talent favors Conant in MSL West

Conant has not won the Mid-Suburban West football title since 2002, and the Cougars missed the playoffs last year.

But with 22 seniors, including 20 who saw playing time last year, the Cougars are poised to end both streaks.

"We feel like we can compete," Conant coach Bill Modelski said. "We think we have five or six kids that are impact kids. But some of those guys go down, it changes things."

In a game that is all about numbers, Conant has them. The Cougars have 15 returning starters, nearly half of which are three-year starters. And many of them are in key spots, such as Palmer Graham, who plays defensive back and has drawn some D-I interest along with linebacker Odell Andrews.

Quarterback Kyle Bradley, who was injured for part of the season las year but still threw for 533 yards and rushed for 346, will be an integral part of the offense. Jake Jakubosky, who rushed for 713 yards, also returns. They will operate behind an offensive line that averages 230 pounds.

Barrington has the largest offensive line in the conference, averaging 253 pounds. The group features a pair of possible Division I players in Alex Serrano and junior Nick Bart. The Broncos also return the area's top quarterback in Johnny Davidson, who threw 25 touchdown passes last year, and Nate King, who will be the top choice at running back.

But the Broncos lost the entire receiving corps and the new group has just 2 varsity receptions to their credit. In addition, 9 of 11 starters on defense are gone because of graduation.

"It's a different team," Barrington coach Joe Sanchez said. "We try to focus on that it is a process. And this group is responding."

Hoffman Estates has not qualified for the playoffs since 2004. That could change this year with an offensive line that is the second largest in the conference averaging 245 pounds.

Add in Dante Cleveland, a three-year starter and Division I prospect at H-back, running back Chady Bitre, who gained nearly 700 yards last year in a limited role, and one of the area's most improved players in 6-foot-6 Dante Hall, and the end of October might not just be for trick and treating in Hoffman Estates any more

"We are making progress," Hoffman Estates coach Mike Donatucci said. "We have had to change things and get the younger kids and their families to understand what we are doing year. It is time to make that next step."

Palatine has won the West three of the last four years. Last year the Pirates snuck up on everyone, stunning Barrington and knocking off crosstown rival Fremd to win the West title.

The Pirates have lost most of that offense with the graduation of quarterback Nick Orlando and running back Cam Cornelius. But the Pirates do return the best group of receivers in the West in Joey Roy, Jovone Stricker, Dan Garcia and Matt Lamm, all of whom started last year.

Quarterback Zach Oles is a junior and throws and runs well. But the offensive line is untested and the running game has some questions as well, while the defense is improved.

Fremd is at turning point. The Vikings have been looking to this season since this group of seniors were freshmen. They also have a junior class that is talented in its own right, and combined the Vikings could make a huge jump this season after winning just one playoff game in each of the last three.

Fremd also has legit Division 1 players in defensive back Kenny Lyke and defensive end Matt McCabe along with Division 1 prospect Cordell Finley. But with 43 players, many of which are going both ways, can the Vikings hold up all year with a brutal schedule that begins with Lake Zurich?

Schaumburg is starting 18 juniors and the Saxons are looking to build as the season progresses. Schaumburg has one of its largest offensive lines in coach Mark Stilling's 11-year tenure, weighing at an average of 230 pounds as a group.

Predicted order of finish: Conant, Barrington, Hoffman Estates, Palatine, Fremd, Schaumburg