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Football: Elk Grove lines up behind its most experienced group

Elk Grove coach John Sigmund is staying with his roots.

Sigmund, who is in his second year as the varsity head coach at Elk Grove, will be sticking with his ground-and-pound philosophy that he brought over from Glenbard West when he was the offensive coordinator.

This season, Sigmund and his Grenadiers, who were 1-8 last season, have even more reason to stay the course since Elk Grove boasts an experienced offensive line group with three starters back.

Louis DiPietro (5-foot-7, 225), Luke Radkte (6-0, 225) and Dan Powell (6-3, 245) are all seniors and are expected to take care of business up front for Elk Grove. Matt Varga (6-2, 290), who transferred from Texas, will also be counted on, and Josh Luis and Cody Curran are also expected to see lots of time.

"It is our most experienced group," Sigmund said. "We are going to count on them to control the ball and the clock."

Elk Grove will need to do that to keep pressure off their team, which has 14 seniors along with 14 juniors on its 47-man roster.

"Our backs are against the wall," Sigmund said. "But we are working. This is a great group of guys who want to play for each other, and with each other. That is what the game is all about."

Tyler Selvig, a junior, will start at quarterback for the Grens.

"He is a three-sport athlete and made major contributions to the baseball team last year," Sigmund said. "He can throw and run so he is a dual threat, and that is what we are looking for."

It will be a very youthful running back squad for Elk Grove. Genio Hyppolite, who is a junior, along with wingback Brandon Paeng should get most of the carries. Connor Cloherty, a senior, will play fullback.

Should opponents concentrate too much on Elk Grove's running game, Marquis Friend will make them pay for it. The speedy wide receiver who transferred from Niles North is a threat every time he touches the ball.

"He is an explosive kid," Sigmund said. "He is very quick. He has the burst that when he gets the ball at 5 yards - he can take it to the house. He will be an exciting new element to our offense."

EJ Tirados along with a bevy of young newcomers will be opposite Friend at wide receiver.

"Last year we struggles quite a bit defensively," Sigmund said. "But our defensive line can be pretty good this year."

Sigmund is especially impressed with Dionte Tillman, who will anchor that line at nose. Jason Davis and Azaare Henderson, along with Luis, make up the rest of the front in the Grens' 3-4-4 scheme.

Cloherty and Radtke will patrol the middle of the defense with Tony Rogus, Anthony Coronado, Tim Varga and Bobby Cavanaugh battling for other spots. The defensive backfield with be led by Friend and Hyppolite at the safety spots and sophomore corners Vince Faciano and Dylan Elsner.

"These kids have taken a lot of steps to get better," Sigmund said. "I am telling ur kids to thrive on the competition."

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