I can just piggy back onto this thread if you don’t mind.
I know there’s plans to televise. Saw more tech gear there this year than last year but don’t know if it’s for game film use or public consumption. I can make a call tomorrow morning.
As far as a preview: This matchup is perfect for both schools. A great test for both schools but with the SICA/DuPage merger, I don’t know if Sandburg re-ups for another two years.
I say perfect for both schools because St. Rita gets a healthy program with an excellent coach while still being favored most of the time. While Sandburg gets an annual playoff qualifier with a challenging roster that they can definitely beat once in awhile. I mean Sandburg’s schedule does not ‘need’ St. Rita on it to make them playoff-ready, the rest of their schedule is challenging enough. Does Sandburg re-up with a traditional power or go searching for an easier week 1 W?
As far as the game goes, it’s a toss up. St. Rita’s young speed vs Sandburg’s size. Sandburg, again, impresses with McAllister as their week 0 scrimmage was vs Morgan Park. Morgan Park has speed to burn so St. Rita’s possible speed advantage is partially negated by the Eagles’ having seen top flight speed already this season ( how many years can you say that in week one, never until week 0’s became a thing)
St. Rita usually known for a having a stable of corn-fed, sewer cap monsters is undersized compared to their usual years. But fret not, they’ll still be bigger than 75% of their opponents. And from the looks from week 0, Sandburg is not a team the Mustangs will be bigger than. The Eagles are massive.
I know the coaches don’t want to hear this but this collection of St. Rita Mustangs is the best group of talent they have had sophomore to senior since the Kaleb Brown/Michael Gaughan year. But they are young, and I mean young. 17? Seniors on the team. But of those seniors are the extremely talented James Kingsbury, Justin Buckner and Nick Herman so that is an impressive trio. Plus, I’m going to say it now, the defensive backfield led by returning juniors Langston Smith and James Franklin with the rest of the nickel personnel are all underclassmen, I cannot wait to see them with one year of Coach Hopkins under their belt. It’s possibly the best potential defensive backfield I have seen at 77th and Western Ave.
The Mustangs offense could be explosive. JR QB Armbruster definitely impressed me in week 0 being bigger, stronger and quicker than I remember. If Coach Nee can get his swagger going early in games and in the season, he can have an extremely productive career. I see the JR Armbruster’s confidence as an extremely important factor to his game. He’s hard on himself. But when he’s bouncing like he knows he belongs (Marist game last year) then he could end up being the best player on the field.
And if St. Rita has a potential, legitimate Player of the Year Candidate, it’s RB Nick Herman, violent, fast, a threat to house each touch. Best CCL player not named Elliot. Soph RB, Brandon Johnson looks the part. Herman is the horse but you can’t go an 11-14 game season with their schedule getting 40 touches, you need a compliment and Brandon Johnson could be perfect. Raw, talented, large, fast, accepts contact, if his feet, angles and carrying height improves over time, St. Rita will produce another top flight RB. Toss in what could be St. Rita’s best offensive weapon in since Kaleb Browns Junior year in Walter Jones and like I said, the very young Mustangs could, COULD be explosive.
Sandburg returns many key pieces from last year and will again have the size advantage. This game could go either way. Sandburg with a quality week 0 opponent, have a week experience over the young Mustangs and if I have overrated St. Rita’s talent, then the Eagles will go toe to toe for 4 quarters winning a 22-21 type game. I believe St. Rita will win 21-8 but can see them losing this game also like I said if I have overrated them. Sorry wit that it took so long to respond. Have a great week
