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56 | August 23, 2018 | The Northbrook tower football preview guide 2018 northbrooktower.com Loyola reloads after second-place finish Neil Milbert Freelance Reporter While a massive building project is going on adjacent to Loyola Academy’s football field, coach John Holecek is trying to construct another powerhouse on the gridiron. “As usual, we don’t have a lot of returnees (who were starters) but the seniors have stepped up,” said Holecek, who is starting his 13th season with the Ramblers and holds the school record with 135 victories. “A lot of guys have matured; they look the part. We have some weapons. “We’re excited about the first game. With our schedule, the first month of the season we’ll know right away how good we are.” If it turns out to be a typical season, the Ramblers will be very, very good. They advanced to the 8A state championship game before losing last season just as they did in 2016, 2013 and 2011. In 2015, they won the state championship after being ousted in the playoffs the year before (when they regrouped with a victory against the Public League champion in the Prep Bowl that launched a 30-game winning streak). The first game of the season will be played in Michigan against Rockford, a traditionally strong team from north of Grand Rapids. Then Loyola will return to the North Shore to meet New Trier in the Trevians’ newly remodeled stadium. That will be followed by the home opener against Chicago Catholic League rival Mount Carmel, which is one of only three home games on the schedule. The encounter at New Trier should be interesting. Last season, in the first round of the playoffs, when the teams clashed for the first time since 2006, the 27th-seeded Trevians scored 22 unanswered points in the final 10 minutes, 12 seconds, throwing a scare into the sixth-seeded Ramblers, who held on to win 35-32. Offense The second half of that game marked the varsity debut of Loyola’s Trevor Cabanban and the little running back made a great first impression, going on a 39-yard touchdown run and finishing the afternoon with 84 yards in 10 carries. He continued to excel in the next two playoff games but his season came to an end when he was injured in the quarterfinal game at Marist. Now, Cabanban is back for his junior season and his 308 net yards in 47 carries for a team best 6.6- yard rushing average, suggesting he will be one of the Ramblers’ most exciting offensive players. Senior running back Michael Gavric and junior Tyler Flores both got a significant amount of playing time last year and figure to make an impact. “Michael adds a different element with his power,” Holecek said. “He’s a slasher with speed.” Although last season’s quarterback, Quinn Boyle, led Loyola in both passing and rushing — amassing 3,020 yards and accounting for 29 touchdowns — Holecek doesn’t believe replacing him will be a problem. Jack Fallon inherits the starting job after throwing five touchdown passes Rory Boos catches a pass during Loyola’s state title game against Lincoln-Way East Nov. 25 in DeKalb. 22nd Century Media File Photo as Boyle’s backup and his understudy, fellow senior Matt Schiltz, also has some varsity experience. “Jack and Matt are talented and have done a good job this summer,” he said. Fallon spent the summer trying to get faster and stronger so he too can be effective as a runner. “With me being able to run the ball it opens up the offense,” he said. “Quinn was one of the greatest and filling his shoes will be hard but I’ve got some great receivers.” Foremost among the receivers is senior Rory Boos, Fallon’s grammar school teammate at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Last season, he was the team leader in receiving yardage (825 yards on 45 catches) and touchdowns (11). “I’m working on being more of a leader and improving my blocking downfield and route running,” Boos said. Another senior, Noah Jones, had his 2017 playing time curtailed because of injuries but he too is a dynamic pass catcher. Holecek thinks two other seniors, wide receiver Artie Collins and slot receiver Jared Lombardi, also have what it takes to make things happen when the Ramblers throw the football. “Jared has had a terrific summer,” Holecek said. “He’s very talented.” The inexperienced offensive line suffered a setback when 6-foot-2-inch, 250-pound junior tackle Christo Kelly was sidelined because of an offseason injury, a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). However, 6-2, 255-pound senior guard Joe Naselli is back after missing almost all of last season because of a torn ACL in his left knee that was sustained in the second game. Holecek is a proponent of two-platoon football but this season he plans to have Naselli and senior end Conor Hough go both ways. Defense In the forefront on defense is senior free safety Jake Gonzaez, the leading tackler last season. According to Gonzalez, “the underclassmen (on defense) are coming along and those of us who are older guys are using losing the state championship game (to Lincolnway East) as motivation.” Holecek was a linebacker in college and in the NFL, so it’s not surprising that his Ramblers are known for having outstanding players at that position. This season he has a solid corps of senior returnees: Patrick Daniels, Armoni Dixon, Sam Scheirloh and Mike Kadus. Last year Daniels moved into the starting lineup after Peter Kennedy suffered a season-ending injury in the opener. “It gave me a lot of reps and familiarity with the Key Returns and losses Key returns WR Rory Boos - 45 catches, 825 receiving yards, 11 touchdowns RB Trevor Cabanban - 47 carries, 308 rushing yards, three touchdowns FS Jake Gonzalez - 94 tackles, two interceptions OLB Armoni Dixon - 64 tackles, 8.5 TFL Key losses QB Quinn Boyle - 3,020 total yards, 29 touchdowns LB Anthony Rodriguez - 94 tackles, 11.5 TFL, four sacks LB Christopher Kelly - 90 tackles, 7 TFL OL Charlie Gross - paved way for offense defenses,” he said. “I’m feeling a lot more confident than I did at the beginning of last year.” Senior cornerbacks Jack Burke and Michael Byrne have won vacated starting jobs after being secondstringers last season and in Holecek’s opinion “they both are playing well (in practice).” Also moving up from the second unit is senior strong safety Nicholas Pomey. Special Teams Expected to play prominent roles on the special teams as kickers are sophomore Nathan Van Zelst and senior Eddie Auer and Holecek is predicting that “Lombardi and Cabanban should be really exciting” on kickoff returns.
northbrooktower.com football preview guide 2018 the northbrook tower | August 23, 2018 | 57 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.” Glenbrook South quarterback Evan Whetstone throws a pass during training camp practice on Aug. 14 in Glenview. Michal Dwojak/22nd Century Media 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 threeheaded 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 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 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. 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 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 “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.”
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