GL_082318

46 | August 23, 2018 | The glenview lantern football preview guide 2018
glenviewlantern.com
Titans ready to make next jump in CSL
Michal Dwojak
Sports Editor
Glenbrook South head
coach Dave Schoenwetter
wanted his team to escape
the cellar at last year’s
training camp.
Now, he wants his Titans
to take their next step.
The Titans improved
last season with a 5-5 record
and lost in the first
week of the postseason
against Barrington High
School after winning one
game the previous season.
Schoenwetter saw the
progress the now thirdyear
coach wanted from
his team with that playoff
appearance against the
IHSA Class 8A No. 2 seed.
Now, he is ready to watch
his squad take the next
step in a difficult Central
Suburban League South
division.
“I think it creates an
expectation of where
the program should be,”
Schoenwetter said. “A
goal to be back in the
playoffs seems realistic
and attainable. I think our
kids have had that mindset
that we’re working to
be in the playoffs, and it’s
good to hear that in their
vocabulary.”
Part of the change in culture
at GBS has been the
work put in during the offseason.
Like most teams,
the Titans have dedicated
time in the weight room
to prepare for a long season,
but they have also
committed to watching
film and practicing harder
during training camp.
Once the season ended
in the playoffs last year,
the seniors got together
to get the underclassman
involved in building the
team camaraderie needed
to be successful this year.
That talk set the expectation
for what the Titans
need to do next.
“We just want to improve
every year and as
we look back, we don’t
want to have any regrets,”
senior tight end and defensive
end Ryan O’Hara
said. “I feel like the people
who played before us, we
owe something to them
and we have to keep the
legacy going.”
Offense
There’s one word that’s
synonymous with GBS
football to most people:
run.
It’s not a surprise to
many that the Titans
will have a strong rushing
attack this season.
Senior fullback Jack Jerfita
returns after he was
thrown into the fire last
season. He finished with
586 rushing yards and
six touchdowns in what
became a three-headed
running machine. But
the person’s job he took
last season will join him
to help lead a strong running
game.
Senior Harry Panagakis
missed last season
after a leg injury during
the summer, which forced
Schoenwetter to put Jerfita
in his spot. The two seniors
will lead the way for
a talented position group
that once again can cause
issues for defenses with
its depth.
“We’re looking strong,”
Jerfita said. “We’ve got a
lot of great guys. We’re all
shifty and physical.”
But Schoenwetter
knows that he can’t let his
offense only run. He wants
the running game to be
used to set up the passing
Glenbrook South quarterback Evan Whetstone throws a pass during training camp
practice on Aug. 14 in Glenview. Michal Dwojak/22nd Century Media
Key returns and losses
Key returns
RB Jack Jerfita —
senior finished with
586 rushing yards, six
touchdowns
RB Harry Panagakis —
missed junior season
with injury
OL John Travlos — will
lead new offensive line
game, forcing defenses to
value both facets of the
Titans’ offense instead of
pushing on one over the
other. Senior Evan Whetstone
will start the season
as GBS’ starting quarterback
and hopefully help
the offense move down the
field more than just handing
the ball off to the running
back.
“Truthfully, our mindset
is we want to run the football
so we can throw touchdown
passes,” Schoenwetter
said. “I would rather
not have a 15-play running
drive down the field. I’d
love to go three or four and
get the touchdown pass.”
To make it all happen,
though, the Titans will
need a strong offensive
line to create paths for the
running backs and protection
for Whetstone. The
line features new starters,
but senior center John
Travlos knows the key to
a successful line is a good
bond.
“We’re just trying to
gain that chemistry,” Travlos
said. “We’re always
communicating, encouraging
each other, trying
to help each other out and
also trying to stay tough.
We know we’re new with
guys at new positions, but
we know that if we keep
encouraging each other,
keep on working hard,
keep on communicating,
we’re going to be a good
line.”
Defense
The Titans’ defensive
players are looking to find
consistency when facing
adversity, something they
Key losses
RB Savontae Garner —
667 rushing yards, 11
touchdowns
WR Ben Hides —
348 receiving yards,
23 catches, five
touchdowns
OL Zach Adams — All-
Conference selection,
three-year varsity starter
failed at last season during
crucial moments.
While GBS gave up less
big plays, there were some
moments toward the end
of the season where the
defensive players failed
to make plays to keep the
Titans in the game. That’s
been one of the focuses
this training camp as the
defensive players want to
limit the time they’re on
the field so they can help
the offense create enough
time to score.
“Obviously with our
offense, we want to give
them as much time as they
can with the ball,” said
Panagakis, who will also
play as an outside linebacker.
“It puts pressure
on us to make plays and
give the ball back to our
offense so they can score.”
One of the differences
on defense will be the
amount of players who
will play on both sides
of the ball. Both Panagakis
and O’Hara will play
both ways and try to help
the defense set the tone
more than it did last season
against the state’s elite
teams.
One of the keys is never
taking a play off, which
many players have worked
on during training camp.
They know the Titans
can’t let up on any play
because that can prove to
be the one that decides a
game.
“I think that the defense
sets the tone,” O’Hara
said. “We just have to get
out there and hit hard there
and be the toughest team
out there.”
Special Teams
GBS made a splash in
special teams with strong
kickoff returns from the
running backs it had last
season.
Not much will change
with the backs this season
or the revolving door of
talented returners the Titans
will boast for another
season.
While there wasn’t a
set scheme put in yet for
special teams during training
camp, Schoenwetter
knows how his group will
look.
“I think we’ll have
a group that we rotate
through there,” Schoenwetter
said. “We’ve got a
deep group.”