NT_082318

52 | August 23, 2018 | The Northbrook tower football preview guide 2018
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Chemistry key component for Scouts’ success
David Jaffe
Freelance Reporter
Having good team
chemistry has made Lake
Forest a consistent playoff
team the last several years.
That key quality is also
what Scouts coach Chuck
Spagnoli feels will be
the difference in whether
they’re once again successful.
“The biggest thing is
to try to create chemistry
among the team, that promotes
positive play,” he
said. “It’s easy to say and
harder to accomplish.”
The Scouts hope to continue
an eight-season run
in the IHSA state playoffs
this season. Last year, a
6-5 Scouts squad reached
the second round of the
Class 6A playoffs before
falling to Hoffman Estates
High School. Lake Forest
returns a number of
experienced players from
that team but will also see
new faces including one at
quarterback. The Scouts
lost several key players to
graduation, and will expect
the new senior class,
and even some underclassmen,
to fill holes.
“For the inexperienced
guys unless you’ve played
through significant situations
it’s hard to be prepared
for [the season]
without living it,” Spagnoli
said. “Team chemistry
is the biggest reason for
the success we’ve had. We
have a Rylie Mills but 95
percent of our kids aren’t
DI players.
“So it’s going to take
everyone playing well as
a unit. There’s a method to
this thing.”
Offense
The Scouts have veteran
depth at certain offensive
positions and some new
faces at others.
Coming into the 2018
season, the offense will
have balance and the ability
to tweak things based
on its personnel.
“We will be multiple
with our formations and be
able to utilize our running
game and passing game
pretty evenly,” Spagnoli
said. “We also can adapt
our system to whomever is
in at quarterback or to our
specific running backs and
receivers. It’s just about
defining certain roles right
now.”
Since Jack Mislinski
graduated, it’s an open
competition at quarterback
among seniors Ryan
Cekay, a Colgate University
commit at wide
receiver, Tommy Hanson
and James Swartout. Each
have different strengths
they’re bring to the field.
“They all prepare very
well mentally,” Spagnoli
said. “Ryan’s taller
and more athletic. James
throws the ball better. And
Tommy has the best grasp
on our system. If you combined
those things, it’d be
the perfect situation. But
each kid gives something
positive to the offense.”
Jacob Thomas, who became
the starting running
back midway through last
season, returns at the position
this year. He helped
the Scouts win their final
three games to make playoffs
last season, including
running for 153 yards
to beat Zion-Benton in a
must-win game.
“A year ago today, Jacob
struggled with the mental
aspect of the game,” Spagnoli
said. “That’s where
the biggest change has
come. He’s a little bigger
and stronger now but mentally
he’s much more comfortable
and confident.”
The Scouts have the
Lake Forest High School senior Ryan Cekay, a Colgate University commit, is
expected to return at wide receiver this season and be in the rotation at quarterback.
22nd Century Media File Photo
most depth at receiver and
on the line. If Cekay isn’t
quarterback, he’ll be one
of the Scouts’ top targets
like the last two years.
Luke Nolan and Clay Burton
have plenty of playing
time as has tight end
Crawford Bolton. Ultimatley,
that plays out as an advantage
to the Scouts new
quarterback.
“Late in the game, you
start to get more tired
mentally,” Swartout said.
“Having guys like Ryan
and Luke is a benefit because
they know what it’s
like being in close games
in the fourth quarter. They
can help the younger guys
stay mentally focused and
that as a quarterback helps
a lot.”
Chase Bahr, who committed
to play for the University
of Pennsylvania
next year, leads a deep offensive
line that will play
seven or eight consistently.
“Guys on our O-line like
Matt Frank, Billy Gardner,
Charlie Aberle and Brenden
Chandler have been
working their butts off
and deserve a lot of credit,”
Swartout said. “Their
work has really paid off
and I think it’s given us a
very strong O-line.”
Defense
The Scouts graduated
some great defensive players
including linebackers
John Deering and Bryan
Ooms and defensive back
Chris Cavalaris. Still, Spagnoli
has experienced
guys left on the line, in
the secondary and at linebacker.
“We have at least one
or two players at each
level that have been great
for us,” Spagnoli said.
“There’s leadership at all
three levels of our defense.
“We don’t have five linemen
that are at Mills’ level,
but guys like Ben Marwede
and Billy Avery have been
a huge part of what our defensive
line does. We have
three senior linebackers
and have the most experience
in our secondary.”
Will Wisniewski started
every game at linebacker
last year and Luca Passinato
and Ethan Hunt complete
the linebacker corps.
Ed Scheidler and Will Freeman
lead the secondary.
Junior defensive end
Mills is the big name,
though, at 6-5, 265 pounds.
He has already received
offers from 22 schools including
big names like the
University of Notre Dame,
the University of Georgia,
Clemson University, Penn
State University, Oklahoma
State University, the
University of Alabama,
Ohio State University and
the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
“As good of a player
as Rylie is, he’s a better
person and even harder
worker,” Spagnoli said.
“He works as hard as anyone
we’ve had. That’s why
he’s successful and will
continue to be beyond high
school.”
Special Teams
Special teams is as important
to the Scouts as
Key returns and
losses
Key Returns
DL Rylie Mills – 34
total tackles, 4 sacks
RB Jacob Thomas -
142 carries, 700 yards
WR, QB Ryan Cekay –
747 receiving yards,
6 touchdowns, 42
catches
WR Luke Nolan – 14
catches, 195 yards
OL Chase Bahr
– University of
Pennsylvania commit
Key Losses
DB Alex Moss
LB, RB Bryan Ooms
– 3 sacks, 23 total
tackles, 94 carries for
490 yards rushing and
11 touchdowns
QB Jack Mislinski –
1,459 yards, 11 touchdowns
DB Chris Cavalaris - 4
interceptions, 48 total
tackles
LB John Deering - 69
total tackles, 3 sacks
any other phase of the
game.
“We take a lot of pride in
special teams,” Spagnoli
said. “It’s as important to
us as first-and-ten or thirdand-seven.
Blocking a
punt, forcing a turnover or
getting a touchback are all
just as critical to us playing
well.”
There’s also talent
among the potential punt
and kick returners with
Nolan, Cekay, Thomas and
junior Breck Nowik while
Kai Kroeger will punt and
compete for kicker along
with Carter Hiam and Nolan
Petzer.