Can anyone remember the last time Deerfield was not favored to win the Central Suburban League North Division title?
”I can`t,” says Deerfield coach Paul Adams.
It`s been so long that the league`s coaches are almost apologetic about picking someone other than the Warriors.
”This will be one of the few times I can say Glenbrook South has more material than Deerfield,” says Waukegan West coach John Neff. ”And that`s not to take anything away from Deerfield.”
Only four seniors started for Glenbrook last year, when the Titans upset Deerfield in the final regular-season game to win the league title. This year`s juniors, who won the sophomore title last season, lost only one game as freshmen and sophomores.
In addition, Erick Anderson, a 6-foot-2-inch, 195-pound fullback-linebacker , is considered the league`s premier player. He was all- conference the last two years.
Glenbrook South, favorite. Get used to it.
”I feel good about that,” says Glenbrook South Bob Schoenwetter, who led the Titans into the playoffs in 1975, 1978 and 1983. ”It`s a position we have not been in. We`ve always been picked second or third and we`ve had to fight our way through.”
Anderson, who rushed for more than 750 yards last season, will be operating behind a strong offensive line that will include tackles Andy Rhodes (6-1, 255) and Tom Weyhrich (6-3, 225) and guard Anmar Atchu (6-0, 198).
Walter Cade, a game-breaking receiver, will move to wingback to better take advantage of his speed (4.5 seconds for 40 yards). Lars Anderson, Erick`s brother, and Jeff Creel are battling at quarterback.
Schoenwetter`s biggest fear is injury, which could expose depth problems, particularly in the offensive and defensive lines.
Deerfield, which won one more playoff game than Glenbrook and finished 8-3, will be senior-dominated again. Seven starters return for the Warriors, who are still smarting from last year`s loss to Glenbrook South.
”It`s been in their craws the whole time since the end of last season,” Adams says. ”One thing about being the team to shoot at, you can`t sneak up on people. We`ll be ready for Glenbrook South.”
Bill Kerstein, who gained more than 850 yards last season, will team with 5-10, 195-pound fullback Tony Gassman in the Deerfield backfield. Gassman gained close to 450 yards last season. Alex Adams (6-0, 218), Paul`s son, will anchor both lines.
Waukegan West, with 13 starters back, should be a contender. All-conference quarterback Tom Liginski, a 6-4, 200-pound senior, completed 41 of 84 passes last year for 714 yards and 5 touchdowns. He rushed 50 times for 274 yards. Center Ralph McClean (6-2, 195) and defensive back Mark Crooks, who has started since his sophomore year, are all-conference performers.
”We have two or three players who could be the best we`ve ever had at their positions,” Neff says.
Niles West is trying to regroup after losing quarterback Todd Kassel to injury, possibly for the season. The 6-2, 185-pound senior broke the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot two weeks before the start of summer practice. ”He was our best athlete,” says Niles West coach Bill Richardson. ”We lost a lot when we lost him.”
Dan Erdal, a 6-4, 190-pound quarterback, is one of five returning starters for Waukegan East, which has won only two games the last three years. Second-year coach Larry Owen has 18 lettermen on a roster of 54. Last year`s team (1-8) started preseason practice with only 35 players.
Maine West, 0-9 last season, has 15 starters returning, including slotback-safety Tom Stanko, defensive end Joe Wall (6-5, 220), center-linebacker Bob Anderson, linebacker Eric Wilcox and running back John Massarelli.
