Scouting the Crystal Lake South Gators
Crystal Lake South must replace 17 graduated starters from last season's second-round playoff team but not the quarterback.
That position belongs to senior Ian Gorken, who last season completed 81 of 120 passes (67.5%) for 1,350 yards and 14 touchdowns and threw only 4 interceptions. He also rushed for 622 yards and 6 touchdowns on 95 carries for a 6.5-yard average.
Bad news, Fox Valley Conference: Gorken is bigger and better heading into his third varsity season.
"Ian is a great athlete and he has really bought into the weight room," said third-year coach Rob Fontana, who directed the Gators to a 6-5 record and the school's first playoff victory since 2011. "He probably put on 15 pounds of muscle. Strength-wise he is way above where he was last year and he still moves the way he did. He busted his tail to get to this point."
Gorken goesto work behind an offensive line led by three-year starter Dominic Collado, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound senior committed to Miami of Ohio. Jack Turner (6-4, 285) started a few games early last season and continued to rotate in. The rest of the line must be rebuilt. One building block is Nate Compere, the fourth freshmen lineman the program has elevated to the varsity over the past decade.
Gorken's top five receivers from last season are now in college. That means expanded roles this season for seniors Dan Sage (6-2) and Dylan Law (6-3) and junior Gavin Giejda (6-0). Joining that group is senior Brock Jewson (6-0), a multisport athlete who returns to football after sitting out last year.
Fontana said Law is a "team-first kind of guy and a leader on and off the field that the other kids kind of rally around because he's a vocal leader who also leads by example." Also a returning defensive end, Law will line up at tight end or in the slot.
Fontana trusts Gorken to make the proper decisions when running the read option.
"We want him to make the throw if it's there or take the three yards they're giving you and turn it into five or six," Fontana said. "I'll take those three yards every time rather than force a pass. The whole playbook is open to him and ready to execute."
The defense is led by returning lineman Jason Burburija (6-2, 225), who can toggle between end and nose guard. The state-qualifying wrestler was the fourth-leading tackler for the Gators last season with 51.5. His 9 sacks led the team.
The only other full-time starter returning on defense is Law, who totaled 50.5 tackles (8 for loss), 5 sacks and forced a fumble.
Despite this team's overall inexperience, Fontana sees promise.
"We have a lot of guys that are competitors, a lot of guys who are going to refuse to lose," he said. "Our whole thing is that we want to compete. You're going to see four quarters of relentless football and a team that leaves it all out on the field."