KWT Aug 24th
Chicago Area Top 10 Football by Ken Musich
1. Maine South Setting the tone for the Hawks will be Matt Alviti, a senior Northwestern recruit in his third season as the team’s starting quarterback. Alviti’s arm and legs have accounted for 76 touchdowns and he’s not the only offensive weapon. John Solari, Frank Perrone and Mike Bosco are capable receivers, while Anthony
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Mitchell and Clay Burdelik will run behind an all-senior line. Linebacker Noah Meyer leads the defense. 2. Bolingbrook Coming off a 5-5 finish in 2010, the Raiders flew under the radar for much of their run to the Class 8A title last season. With Illinois-bound QB Aaron Bailey, RBs Omar Stover and Jaden Huff and several linemen back on offense, that won’t happen again. Junior DB Parker Westphal is a big-timer on the defensive side. 3. Glenbard West The Hilltoppers are never going to change their identity, which is that they’re a run-first team. With
backs such as Joe Zito and Scott Andrews, there’s no need to. But this Glenbard West team can also throw effectively, especially with 6-5, 210-pound TE Nathan Marcus, a Vanderbilt recruit. Ruben Dunbar, one of the nation’s top defensive end prospects, is another big-timer. 4. Wheaton Warrenville S. Look for the Tigers — second in Class 7A last season — to ride a veteran offensive line of Frank Garcia, Ryan McCarthy, Rich Metzger, Joe Kirsch and Kyle Joyce as far as possible. The idea is to buy time for a defense that graduated 11 starters as WW South takes on a
brutal schedule that features Glenbard West, Maine South and DuPage Valley powers such as Glenbard North and Wheaton North. 5. Mount Carmel Most of the starters return from a team that went 10-4, losing to eventual 8A champ Bolingbrook in the Class 8A second round before winning the Prep Bowl. A pair of seniors — QB Don Butkus and RB Draco Smith — should keep the Caravan’s trademark option attack rolling along. 6. Loyola There are a lot of skill players to replace for last year’s Class 8A runnerup, including QB Malcolm Weaver and most of his favorite targets. But the Ramblers have found a way to keep the train rolling with two semifinal bids and a trip to Champaign the last three years. Look for QB Peter Pujals, DL Darby Goodwin and DB Luke Ford to keep Loyola among the state’s elite programs. 7. Montini The path to a fourth consecutive Class 5A title is anything but easy for theBroncos, who open with bigschool powers Palatine and LincolnWay East before playing defending 3A champ Aurora Christian and Marian Central in the Suburban Christian Blue. But Montini has the talent for another playoff run with stars such as WR Joe Borsellino and DE Fred Beaugard. 8. Joliet Catholic It starts for the Hilltoppers with Ty Isaac, the reigning Sun-Times Player of the Year who’s committed to USC. But the state’s best player has a great supporting cast, including fellow RB Tyler Reitz and OL J.B. Butler. No program in Illinois has won more state titles (13) and state trophies (17). Don’t be surprised if Joliet Catholic adds some more hardware. 9. Glenbard North One of the state’s more underrated programs, the Panthers just keep winning with two semifinal berths and a runner-up trophy since 2007. QB Brian Murphy, committed to wrestle at Michigan, and RB Justin Jackson should keep Glenbard North competitive again in the DuPage Valley and Class 8A. 10. Simeon Again the class of the Public League, the Wolverines are still hoping to break through in the IHSA playoffs. Elcee Burke takes over as QB and will operate behind a line anchored by seniors Kendall Moore (6-5, 265) and Devontae Lee (6-6, 230). LB Reggie Spearman, who has committed to Illinois, and DB Aaron Banks pace the defense.