There was a time when Lake Forest could just about write itself into the state playoffs long before coach George Barry`s whistle would signal the season`s first practice session. Those days are gone.
The Scouts, who made five straight playoff appearances beginning in 1978, haven`t won a North Suburban Conference title or seen postseason play since 1982, but that drought could be about to end. Barry, who welcomed back-to-back sophomore championship teams to varsity camp, has 18 lettermen and eight starters back from last year`s 4-5 finisher.
”We always feel like we`re going to contend,” said Barry. ”But it`s kind of different on varsity than sophomore football. Sophomores can get away with more speed and less hitting. On varsity, you must block.”
The Scouts` returning starters are linebackers Jim Dugan and Tim Theer
(6-1, 200), defensive tackle Nick Mancuso (6-4, 230), running back Byron Pond (5-11, 202), tackle Mike Thomas (6-0, 210), defensive end Scott Dugan, offensive end Bill Douglass and defensive lineman LeRoy Lathan (5-7, 220).
Defending champion Libertyville had five 1985 starters who will be playing college football this fall, but coach Dale Christensen does have six returning starters. Todd Shanholtzen adds the quarterbacking duties to his job as a defensive back. He`ll throw behind a line anchored by guards Eric Christensen and Bill Lester.
Otherwise, the North Suburban may enjoy its best balance in years. ”Lots of years you can say somebody looks head and shoulders above the rest, but this year it`s just very, very balanced,” said Antioch coach Steve Wapon, whose NSC runner-up Sequoits reached the state Class 5A quarterfinals last season.
The Sequoits, who graduated 17 starters from a 9-3 squad, should, however, join Zion-Benton–behind returning quarterback Chris Herling
–Stevenson, Warren and Niles North in the hunt for first-division finishes.
PRIVATE LEAGUE
Providence coach Matt Senffner is using a bit of incentive to motivate the defending league champs. The Celtics are making their last tour of the league before joining the larger West Suburban Catholic Conference in 1987.
”Obviously they`re asking us to leave the league because they don`t want to play us anymore,” said Senffner. ”It`s not like we`re using it as a grudge thing or anything, but if we`re supposed to be that good, we don`t want to get beat.”
Chances are the Celtics won`t get beat in the league. They return five offensive and four defensive starters, led by two-year starters Bill McGory, a 6-4, 225 tackle, and wide receiver Mark O`Neill. Quarterback Rich Kostelz and backs Jeff Jenco and Jeff Pyra also return on offense. Linemen Bill LaPonte, Alan Roachner, John Otto and John Fisher are back on defense.
As usual, Aurora Central Catholic should provide the Celtics` chief opposition, but both Nazareth Academy and Chicago Christian hope to move into the playoff picture for the first time. Nazareth, 6-2 last season, hopes quarterback Kenan Lavelle, who threw for nearly 900 yards as a junior, will lead the LaGrange Park school to its first playoff appearance. Lavelle will throw to Ron Mouw, who last year caught 25 passes, 7 for TDs. Chicago Christian tailback Scott Boss runs behind a line that averages more than 200 pounds.
NORTHWEST SUB.
The story in the Northwest Suburban race could be a rags-to-riches saga this year if Grant beats out defending champ Round Lake and Marian Central Catholic for the title as predicted.
Grant was 4-5 overall and tied Marengo for fourth in the conference with a 3-4 mark last year, but coach Mike Rogowski, with 15 starters back, thinks Grant could have its best season since the 1965 team went 9-0.
Quarterback Garry Glauser (6-2, 193), who ran for 450 yards and led the Bulldogs to victories in three of the final four games last season, will run the triple option, aided by fullback Brad Frystak, halfback Kevin Frystak (750 yards rushing, 8 TDs) and wide receiver Mike Kazlausky. Free safety Mark Borten will head the Bulldogs` small but quick defense.
Round Lake (6-4 overall, 6-1 in the conference last year) hopes to repeat. Keys are quarterback Wally Tesch, tackle Tito Hernandez (6-3, 245) and linebackers Mikel Fox (6-0, 215)–a three-year starter–and Jimmy Ridlen.
FOX VALLEY
As far as coach Robert Carlson is concerned, the outcome of back-to-back games with Crystal Lake South (home) and Crystal Lake Central (away) in the first two league games of the season will decide whether Dundee-Crown will be a contender or an also-ran.
”We`ve got to do well in those two games if we expect to go anywhere in our league,” said Carlson, whose Chargers are expected to wage a three-way battle with Central and South for the title.
Dundee-Crown, powered by running back James Haywood (960 yards, 9 TDs last year) on offense and tackle Jim Wormsley (6-5, 278) and linebacker Rich Ebner (6-1, 216) on defense, hopes to make a vast improvement over last year`s 4-5 overall mark and 3-3 league record.
Dislodging Central`s defending champs will be difficult. The Tigers return quarterback Rob Prosniewski and four starters on the offensive line from last year`s 8-2 team. Returnees on the line include tackles John Even
(6-1, 230) and Tom Fuhler (6-3, 232).
INTERSTATE EIGHT
Sandwich, which joined the Interstate Eight Conference in 1985 and promptly won the championship, figures to be challenged by several teams this season in what appears to be a well-balanced league. Sandwich lost 15 lettermen through graduation. Among returnees for Andy Bertram, who coached the title-winning team in his first season at Sandwich, are linebackers Tad Piron and Marty Gebhardt.
NORTHEAST
The consensus is that Elmwood Park will not repeat as champion of the Northeast Conference. Instead, Lisle is the team to beat.
Lisle, despite the loss of running back Lamont White (more than 1,000 yards rushing last year), who transferred to Bolingbrook, returns 24 lettermen, including seven starters on offense and six on defense, from a team that went 10-3 and lost to Bishop McNamara in the Class 3A semifinals.
”We had a good group of talented juniors last year, and most of them are back,” pointed out coach Dennis Ghinazzi, starting his fourth season at Lisle, where the Lions were third behind Elmwood Park and Herscher in `85.
Jason Konder, who gained 1,387 yards last year, has been shifted from fullback to tailback and Byron White (6-1, 217) has been moved to fullback. Tackle Ted Dolley (6-3, 255) and end R.C. McLaurin (6-5, 215) head the defense.
Coach Gary Stearns returns only eight lettermen from last year`s 12-1 team at Elmwood Park.
BIG EIGHT
Richmond-Burton, which has won or shared the last five Big Eight Conference titles, figures to be a contender again, along with Genoa-Kingston and Harvard. Six starters return for Richmond-Burton coach Randy Hofman, who has posted a 53-10 record in six years at that school and an eight-year career mark of 65-15.
PRAIRIE CONFERENCE
Mooseheart, with 15 of 22 starters back from last year`s 10-1 team, rates as a major contender in this new league. Other members are North Shore Country Day, Lake Forest Academy, Alden-Hebron, Rockford Lutheran and Northwestern Military Academy of Lake Geneva, Wis. Mooseheart returnees include quarterback Gary Urwiler, running back Pat Hammond and 230-pound tackle Jeff Weiss. North Shore Country Day, beginning its 40th season under coach M.J. McCarty, has among its returnees quarterback Bill Bach, center Chris Avery and tackle Joel Jacobson.
INDEPENDENTS
Riverside-Brookfield and Marian Catholic are out to improve on last year`s records. Among key players for Riverside-Brookfield, which was 7-4 a year ago, are quarterback Mark Hafkey, linebacker Boris Kaborov, middle guard Mike Novak and running back Ted Latsonas. Marian, 5-4 last fall, is led by Andy Gasbarro, 6-foot-1-inch, 225-pound senior fullback.
