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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.”