Centralia Orphans

Head Coach: Brad Goewey

Assistant Coaches:

Todd Bauer, Jake Lund, Caleb Shipley, Will Henegar, Chad Courson, Jason Enke, Tristan Penrod, Matt Organ, Chuck Lauder

School Nickname/Mascot: Orphans

Team Twitter Handle: @Orphanfootball

Conference: South 7

2023 Regular Season schedule (if known):

1. Salem
2. Collinsville
3. Althoff Catholic
4. Granite City
5. Carbondale
6 Marion
7 Cahokia
8 Mt Vernon
9 Effingham

Returning Offensive Starters for 2023:

Darlyle Jones SR 5'11 160 WR,
Kyle Stinde SR 6'1 305 OL,
Frank Basting SR 5'11 265 OL,
Gavin Berry JR 6'3 310,
Xavier Koch JR 5'11 165 WR,

Returning Defensive Starters for 2023:

Cam Tomlianovich SR 5'10 190 LB,
Keaton Morgan JR 6'1 175 LB,
Landyn McDonal SR 5'7 185 LB,
Daryle Jones SR 5'11 160 DB,
Cade Verble SR 6'0 305 DT,

Newcomers to Watch for 2023:

EJ Johnson SR 6'2 185 RB,
Jaylin Hoskins SR 5'10 155 WR,
Jonas Taylor SR 6'2 235 DE ,
Skilar Nobles SR 5'8 185 DT ,
Nolan Pryor SO 6'1 170 QB,


2023 Team 7on7 or Team Summer Camp?

NA


Impact Player for Centraila:

The Orphans have a handful of experienced senior starters back this season who will also draw continued recruiting interest. Senior WR/DB Daryle Jones (5-foot-11, 160 pounds) is a returning All Conference and All Area player who will again be asked to provide production and leadership and to also never leave the field in 2023.

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EDGY's Quick Take on the 2023 Centralia Orphans:

The Orphans and head coach Brad Goewey made the Class 5A state playoff field in 2022, defeated Troy in opening round action before losing to Morris in second round action to finish the 20122 season. Centralia will no question need to reload this coming summer and will need to replace 12 graduated starters (6 offense 6 defense) from last year's state playoff team. Also the South 7 will again be a pretty strong conference race and expect some of the usual suspects (Marion/Mt/ Vernon) to again challenge at the top of the conference. Look for the Orphans to again conmete against all comers and I can see this team ending up again as a 6-3/5-4 level team in 2023.

Registration for all sports opens up on May 1. Tell a friend and share the link below. Don't let games get cancelled/postponed due to lack of officials.

ihsa.org/officials

Limestone Rockets

Head Coach: Jack Schmider

Assistant Coaches:

Clay Southey/ James Welton/ Greg White/ Robert Betz/ Justen Rayner/ Cody Rupp/ Tony Bentley

School Nickname/Mascot: Rockets

Team Twitter Handle:

Conference: Mid Illini Conference

2023 Regular Season schedule (if known):

8-25 @ Mt. Zion
9-1 v Galesburg
9-8 v East Peoria
9-15 @ Dunlap
9-22 v Washington
9-29 @ Morton
10-6 @ Metamora
10-13 v Pekin
10-20 @ Canton

Returning Offensive Starters for 2023:

Caleb Bieneman/ QB/ 6'5/ 185/ 24
Izaiaz Nunez/ RB/ 5'9/ 175/ 24
Henry Pardieck/ TE/ 6'4/ 220/ 24
Chase Harper/ WR/ 6'0/ 165/ 24
Kenyon Johnson/ WR/ 5'11/ 175/ 24
Taylor Dixon/ OL/ 6'2/ 255/ 24
Ethan Dixon/ OL/ 6'0/ 200/ 25
Dylan Bitner/ TE/ 6'0/ 215/ 25

Returning Defensive Starters for 2023:

Connor Pilgrim/ LB/ 5'10/ 180/ 24
Izaiaz Nunez/ LB/ 5'9/ 175/ 24
Henry Pardieck/ DE/ 6'4/ 220/ 24
Chase Harper/ DB/ 6'0/ 165/ 24
Kenyon Johnson/ DB/ 5'11/ 175/ 24
Ethan Dixon/ DL/ 6'0/ 200/ 25
Dylan Bitner/ LB/ 6'0/ 215/ 25
Jacob McBride/ DB/ 5'10/ 165/ 25
Kamar Sanders/ DB/ 5'10/ 160/ 25


Newcomers to Watch for 2023:

Austyn Huddleston/ RB+DB/ 5'10/ 165/ 25
Jamaine Fleming/ RB+DB/ 6'0/ 175/ 25
Lamar Wommack/ OL+DL/ 6'4/ 285/ 26
Bobby Edwards/ RB+LB/ 6'1/ 195/ 26


2023 Team 7on7 or Team Summer Camp?

@ Washington 7 on 7/ Saturday July 22


Impact Player for Limestone:

Limestone senior QB Caleb Bieneman will be a multi-year varsity starter and an intriguing name to watch this summer and fall for thew Rockets. Bieneman is a solid passer who is also comfortable throwing outside of the pocket. Look for Bieneman to draw increased recruiting looks and attention this summer and fall. I'm also looking for Bieneman to be a key senior leader for the Rockets in 2023 on and off the field.

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EDGY's Quick Take on the 2023 Limestone Rockets:

The 2022 season was not a good one for Limestone and then first year head coach Jeff Schmider as the Rockets posted a disappointing 0-9 record. That's the bad news.....so what's the good news? Limestone welcomes back a ton of experience back from last season including (8 offense 9 defense) and that includes some talented names to watch as well. The Mid Illini conference is really solid year in and year out......so being able to go from 0-9 to the upper tier of the conference is no easy task. However, I can see this team getting to say 3-6/4-5 range this season? The schedule is a beast including a Week 1 non conference game at a stacked Mt. Zion team then hitting several top Mid Illini teams in the first half of the regular season.

This is the perfect punishment for jerk parents, let them see how easy it is.

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Looking forward to this game! I've always wanted us to play them. Should be a great game.

Hoffman Estates Hawks

Head Coach: Tim Heyse

Assistant Coaches:

Brennan Carroll - DC
Paul Moersch - DL|Strength Coordinator
Tom Moore - LB
JP Moore - DB
Ryan Howson - DB
Jeff Mandel - WR | Special Teams Cord
Eric Gdowski - RB
Doug Dannewitz - OL
Joe Garofalo - OL

School Nickname/Mascot: Hawks

Team Twitter Handle: @TPWHawksFootba1

Conference: Mid Suburban West


2023 Regular Season schedule (if known):

at Buffalo Grove
at Elk Grove
at Niles West
vs Niles North
vs Palatine
at Conant
vs Barrington
at Schaumburg
vs Fremd


Returning Offensive Starters for 2023:

Quincy Williams - RB / 5'10" 195 - 24
Stephon Sellers - WR / 5'10" 170 - 24
Xavier Martinez - WR / 6'1" 190 - 24
Oliver Wawrzyniak - TE / 6'2" 205 - 24
Adam Yaro - OL / 6'0" 255 - 24
Anthony Elenz - OL / 6'0" 205 - 25

Returning Defensive Starters for 2023:

Jonathan Mayfield - DL / 6'4 265 - 24
Xavier Martinez - DB / 6'1" 190 - 24
Nate Cleveland - DB/LB / 6'2 195 - 25
Myles Mytych - LB / 5'10 180 - 24
Trendell Whiting - DB / 6'2" 175 - 24
Anthony Ogunniyi - DE / 6'1" 195 - 24

Newcomers to Watch for 2023:

Maurice Brown - 24
Andrew Rashad - 24
Jayden Hampton - 24
Alex Serrano - 24
Dimarte Neustader - 24
Ivan Rodriquez - 24
Josh Shemanskis - 24
Liam Patrick - 25
Will Carlson - 25
Jeff Hermes - 25
Logan Fitch - 25
Jerami Harden - 25
Vladyslav Lazarsky - 25
Landon Ford - 26
Jamari Jackson - 26
Jaquan Fields - 26
Keonte Adams - 26
Tony Carlson - 26

2023 Team 7on7 or Team Summer Camp?

We are hosting (2) 7 on 7's in June

Impact Player for Hoffman Estates:

I was able to see the Hawks live in 2023 and came away impressed with Hoffman Estates for the 20-22 season along with it's potential for 2023. Thge Hawks I feel have a handful of key names to watch this fall and I'll give you one on each side of the football. Senior RB Quincy Williams was in the HE district as a freshman, moved out of state then returned back home last fall. Williams has a lot to offer including a really nice mix of speed and power who's an every down running back. Junior S/OLB Nate Cleveland (6-foot-2, 195 pounds) is a D1 level talent in my opinion. Cleveland, who is the younger brother for former Hawks and current SIU DL Dante Cleveland has a ton of athletic ability and will be a sought after player in the Class of 2025.


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EDGY's Quick Take on the 2023 Hoffman Estates Hawks:

The Hawks are coming off a 7-4 season in 2023 as the Hawks finished the regular season with a 6-3 record, made the Class 7A state playoff field and defeated Elk Grove in Round 1 then lost to St Charles North in second round action. The Hawks and head coach Tim Heyse welcomes back a nice core of starters (6 offense 6 defense) and the talent level is also pretty strong.

The biggest question for Hoffman Estates this season? Who will step up and replace the graduated offensive production lost when QB Aidan Cyr graduates this spring. Cyr was a multi-year varsity starter for the Hawks and a go to guy and leader. If the Hawks can get a quarterback rolling this summer the remaining offensive skills are a plus. I see the Hawks again challenging for the Mid Suburban West conference crown and I'll project them as a 7-2/6-3 team in 2023.

make sure and register today for The Stage Camp set for May 9th 2023 at College of Dupage

Full camp details and registration page is linked


List of College Coaches planning on attending The Stage Camp:

Indiana State, Illinois State, Western Illinois, Southern Illinois, Eastern Illinois, South Dakota State, North Dakota, North Central College, Illinois Wesleyan, Wisconsin Platteville, Grand Valley State, Roosevelt University, University of Indianapolis, Cornell University, College of DuPage, Cornell College, Murray State, West Virginia Wesleyan, Carthage, Valparaiso, New Hampshire, South Dakota, St Thomas

Media (invited): EDGYTIM Rivals.com Clint Cosgrove Rivals.com, Catapult, Deep Dish Football, Prep Red Zone, GoRout, All American Bowl,

Check back as more schools/media will be added soon.

All... About six months till game one. Now nobody really knows this early sometimes not even until the postseason qualifiers are actually announced what class certain schools will be placed in.

When the Ihsa brings out the preseason class designation list as teams drop from consideration during the year many schools end up playing in a different class in the playoffs. Having mentioned that I'm bored and have worked up some very early Researching I looked at and compared past historical and up to the present playoff class school enrollment numbers and this is what I came up with.

5A looks to be a beast in 2023. In no particular order Nazareth, JCA, St. Francis NLP, although at 1296.075 they appear to be a 5A/6A bubble team. A newcomer to 5a is runner up 6A Prairie Ridge. SHG 536 (884.40) (LFF2023) is in 5A due to the success factor as well. There are others and don't forget Peoria even though they lose their stud RB. They are a pain in the a$$ to play.

Two schools that now appear to be a class 3A/4A on the bubble team would make noise if ending up in 3A. The first although not the power team as in the past would be Phillips. The second Richmond (Burton). Schools all over the state with enrollment drops makes all of this speculation difficult. We will see. Ratsy

Chicago St. Ignatius Wolfpack

Head Coach: Matt Miller

Assistant Coaches:

Alex Carrick Mike Miller Arnell Corbin Mark Tilkes Jimmy Gephart Matt Boswell Daniel DeBonnett


School Nickname/Mascot: Wolfpack

Team Twitter Handle: @IgnatiusFB

Conference: CCL/ESCC Green


2023 Regular Season schedule (if known):

08/25/23 St. Patrick
09/01/23 Fenwick
09/08/23 Brother Rice
09/15/23 Marist
09/22/23 @ Naz
09/29/23 @ Notre Dame
10/06/23 Marian Catholic
10/13/23 @ St. Viator
10/20/23 @ Joliet Catholic


Returning Offensive Starters for 2023:

Clement Carey / WR / 6'0 / 165 / 2024
Justin Scott / OL / 6'5 / 312 / 2024


Returning Defensive Starters for 2023:

Justin Scott / DL / 6'5 / 312 / 2024
Declan Boyle / DL / 5'11 / 217 / 2024
Emmett Callahan / LB / 6'0 / 196 / 2025


Newcomers to Watch for 2023:

Joe Toney / RB / 5'10 / 160 / 2025
Chris Morris / OL / 5'10 / 291 / 2025
Teddy Korte / OL / 6'7 / 232 / 2024
Teddy Koehl / TE-DL / 6'2 / 235 / 2025
Tom Anderson / K-P-LB / 6'0 / 189 / 2024
Bo Owen / DB / 5'10 / 180 / 2024


2023 Team 7on7 or Team Summer Camp?

Team Camp @ UW-Whitewater


Impact Player for St. Ignatius:

St. Ignatius senior 5 star ranked defensive tackle Justin Scott (6-foot-5, 312 pounds) is one of the most highly sought after names in the nation. Scott, who will play on both side of the line again this fall for the Wolfpack and who is also expected to make his college decision this summer is simply one of the most physically impressive names from the State of Illinois in many years. Look for Scott to make his college decision between a handful of Power 5 schools including Notre Dame, Georgia, Miami Fla. and most observers feel Notre Dame has the inside track.

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EDGY's Quick Take on the 2023 St. Ignatius Wolfpack:

The turnaround of the St Ignatius program under head coach Matt Miller has been very impressive after posting winning records in four straight seasons including last fall making the Class 6A state playoffs and losing in the 6A state semifinals to Prairie Ridge to finish the season. The 2023 season will no question test and challenge the programs overall depth, numbers and talent level after graduating a very strong senior class this spring.

The biggest question for St. Ignatius this season? Can the Wolfpack reload this summer and remain at the top of the CCL/ESCC conference along with remaining a playoff caliber team this fall? The Wolfpack welcomes back just 2 starters on offense and 3 starters back on defense from last season. The regular season schedule as always offers zero break for the Wolfpack as 7 of it's 9 regular season opponents make the IHSA state playoff field in 2022. Overall? I'm still looking for this team to challenge all comers and to challenge for a state playoff spot in 2023, and I can see this St. Ignatius ending the 2023 regular season as a 6-3/5-4 caliber team.

Blue Island Eisenhower Cardinals

Head Coach: Sheamus Murphy

Assistant Coaches:

Mike Emanuelson - Offensive Coordinator
Ryan Gorney - Special Teams Coordinator
Ronald Rivera - Defensive Coordinator
Ethan Connelly
Dion Foster
Jesse Gonzales
Kevin Hodges
Tim Kersten
John Koschnitzky
TJ Murphy
Dan Russell
Tony Sosnowski
William Viero



School Nickname/Mascot: Cardinals

Team Twitter Handle: @DDEFootball

Conference: South Suburban Red

2023 Regular Season schedule (if known):

WEEK 1 - AUGUST 25TH VS JOHNSON COLLEGE PREP
WEEK 2 - SEPTEMBER 1ST @ THORNRIDGE
WEEK 3 - SEPTEMBER 8TH @ RICHARDS
WEEK 4 - SEPTEMBER 15TH @ SHEPARD
WEEK 5 - SEPTEMBER 22ND VS HILLCREST
WEEK 6 - SEPTEMBER 29TH @ ARGO
WEEK 7 - OCTOBER 6TH VS EVERGREEN PARK
WEEK 8 - OCTOBER 13TH VS REAVIS
WEEK 9 - OCTOBER 20TH VS OAK LAWN


Returning Offensive Starters for 2023:

Kwan Johnson OL 6'4 290, 2024
Antonio Russell WR 6'0 190, 2024
Kameron Taylor WR 6'0 170, 2024
Andre Lovett WR 6'2 170, 2025
Kris Ray RB 5'8 160, 2024

Returning Defensive Starters for 2023:

Bryan Wilson DE 6'2 220, 2024
Brandon Allen Nose 6'2 290, 2025
Deon Hudson DE 6'0 190, 2025
Derrick Hampton LB 5'8 200, 2024
Zayrce Uche CB 5'5 135, 2024
Malachi Brooks CB 6'0 190, 2024
Andre Lovett Safety 6'2 170, 2025


Newcomers to Watch for 2023:

Dajon Dillard RB/WR 5'5 140, 2024
Darion Lee QB 5'11 190, 2025
Nicholas Mayfield QB 6'2 180, 2024
Nathan Smith DB 5'6 135, 2024
Sincere Harris DL 6'1 200, 2027



2023 Team 7on7 or Team Summer Camp?

June 13 @ Eisenhower 5-7PM Tinley Park Stagg Thornton
June 15 @ University of Illinois
June 20 @ Eisenhower 5-7PM TF North Providence Marian Catholic
June 27 @ Eisenhower 5-7PM Brother Rice Lemont
TBD


Impact Player for Blue Island Eisenhower:

Eisenhower Class of 2025 3 star ranked ATH Andre Lovett (6-foot-2, 170 pounds) is a special talent who is already drawiung Power 5 attention along with also adding several college scholarship offers this spring. Lovett, who will play wide receiver and safety again this coming season is a game breaking playmaker who will be again asked to provide a strong overall presence in all three phases of the game for Eisenhower. The Cardinals and head coach Sheamus Murphy also has a handful of additional senior players who are college level names to watch in 2023 as well.

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EDGY's Quick Take on the 2023 Blue Island Eisenhower Cardinals:

Eisenhower and head coach Sheamus Murphy has built this program into a consistent winner and a team that will again challenge in the South Suburban Red conference in 2023. The Cardinals ended the 2022 season with a 5-4 record and lost in opening round action to Lemont to end the season. Eisenhower has made the IHSA state playoff field for three straight seasons (2019/2021 and 2022) and are seeking to make it four straight playoffs this fall.

The biggest question for Eisenhower this season? Can the Cardinal make the important next step....get into the IHSA post-season playoffs and advance out of the opening round? Eisenhower has been in the state playoffs for three straight years and has also been eliminated in the opening round. Eisenhower has a really nice core of returning starters back this summer who will be asked to become leaders and be also asked to make more of an impact in 2023. If the Cardinals can get some help from the underclassmen group to fill in at a few key positions (offensive line/quarterback/linebacker) this team can make some noise again in 2023. I can see the Cardinals again challenging in the South Suburban Red for a conference title and I see them right now as say a 7-2/6-3 caliber tram this fall.

Bloomington Central Catholic Saints

Head Coach: Kevin Braucht

Assistant Coaches:

Jeff Porter Bob Crawford Matt Neff Kyle Myers Zack Appio Tony Slaughter Chris Highland Charlie Adelman Nick Sanchez Austin Jordan Buddy Conklin

School Nickname/Mascot: Saints

Team Twitter Handle: @CCHSsaintsFB

Conference: Illini Prairie

2023 Regular Season schedule (if known):

Pontiac 8/25
@ Rantoul 9/2
PBL 9/8
@ Monticello 9/15
Tolono Unity 9/22
@ St. Joe 9/29
IVC 10/6
@ Milwaukee Academy of Science 10/14
Prairie Central 10/20

Returning Offensive Starters for 2023:

Colin Hayes - QB - 6'6, 215 - 2024
Jackson Metzdorf - LT - 6'4, 280 - 2024
Dominic McKibbin - RT - 6'4, 245 - 2024
Will Adelman - RB - 5'8, 180 - 2024
Grayson McCardle - LG - 5'9, 265 - 2025

Returning Defensive Starters for 2023:

Jackson Metzdorf - DL - 6'4, 280 - 2024
Dominic McKibbin - DL - 6'4, 245 - 2024

Newcomers to Watch for 2023:

Grayson McCardle - OL/DL - 5'9, 265 - 2025
Sam Keller - RB/RB - 5'7, 155 - 2025
Ryan Peterson - OL/DL - 6'4, 230 - 2025
Amir Byrd - WR/DB - 5'7, 140 - 2025
TJ Larson - WR/DB - 6'1, 170 - 2025
Valshun Powe - WR/DB - 6'1, 180 - 2026
Johntaye Powe - OL/DL - 5'8, 235 - 2026
Isaiah Whitaker - WR/DB - 6'1, 160 - 2026

2023 Team 7on7 or Team Summer Camp?

Washington 7 on 7 - 7/22
Normal West 7 on 7 - 6/27, 7/11, 7/18, 7/25


Impact Players for Bloomington Central Catholic:

The Saints have a handful of key senior players back this fall and all three players listed here have the potential to play on Saturday's next fall. Senior QB Colin Hayes has impressive size and physical tools, while both senior OL/DL Dominic McKibbin and senior OL/DL Jackson Metzdorf have some upside and potential for the next level of football.

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EDGY's Quick Take on the 2023 BCC Saints : Bloomington Central Catholic finished 2022 with a 6-3 regular season record, made the Class 2A state playoff field and lost in second round action to Rockridge to end the season. Look for the Saints to again challenge in the Illini Prairie conference this coming season and to again be a factor in the state playoff field. The biggest question will be can the Saints reload in the back seven defensively and also add some depth at a handful of key spots. Overall numbers and depth remain an issue for many teams across the State of Illinois and BCC will look towards a pretty solid underclassmen group to step up and help this summer.

Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond Knights

Head Coach: Ryan Jefferson

Assistant Coaches:

Don McCarthy, Jory Borntreger, Mitch Wilson, Shawn Davison, Tyler Cotton, Morgan Cotton

School Nickname/Mascot: Knights

Team Twitter Handle: @ALAHFootball

Conference: Lincoln Prairie

2023 Regular Season schedule (if known):

@ Argenta-Oreana
vs Villa Grove
@ Tri-County (Oakland)
vs Sangamon Valley (Niantic)
@ Cumberland (Toledo)
vs Nokomis
@ Cerro Gordo-Bement
@ Arcola
vs Sullivan

Returning Offensive Starters for 2023:

Jayce Parsons - QB/RB - 6'2 - 190 - SR
Landon Waldrop - RB - 6'0 - 175 - SR
Connor Nettles - WR - 6'0 - 155 - SR
Dalton Eads - TE - 5'11 - 175 - SR
Jacob Tighe - OL - 6'4 - 280 - JR
Colin Smith - OL - 6'2 - 220 - JR

Returning Defensive Starters for 2023:

Jayce Parsons - LB/DB - 6'2 - 190 - SR
Landon Waldrop - DB - 6'0 - 175 - SR
Connor Nettles - DB - 6'0 - 155 - SR
Ryan Appleby - DB - 5'9 - 155 - JR
Jacob Tighe - DL - 6'4 - 280 - JR
Nathan Tighe - DL - 6'2 - 300 - JR

Newcomers to Watch for 2023:

Brody Louden - OL/DL - 6'0 - 220 - SR
Mackenley Bowles - OL/DL - 6'1 - 240 - JR
Maddix Stirrett - RB/LB - 5'10 - 185 - JR
Mit Appleby - OL/LB - 5'9 - 165 - JR
Alex Rexroad - RB/DB - 5'9 - 150 - JR
Easton Frederick - WR/LB - 5'9 - 160 - SO

2023 Team 7on7 or Team Summer Camp?

@ Robinson on July 22
@ Tuscola on July 28

Impact Player for ALAH: The Knights will welcome back a nice core of returning starters for the 2023 season including a strong mix of senior along with some key underclassmen. From the senior class, keep an eye on QB/DB Jayce Parsons (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) who is a good sized, athletic two way starter and impact player for the Knights. Also senior RB/DB Landon Waldrop is another multi-positional two way starter who will also be asked to provide leadership and production this fall. From the junior class, OL/DL Jacob Tighe (6-foot-4, 280 pounds) is already appearing on some early recruiting radar screens and has good overall college level size and potential.

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EDGY's Quick Take on the 2023 ALAH Knights: ALAH will be looking to move on after graduating standout RB Kaden Feagin (Illinois) who had been a monster for the Knights during his high school career. The shelves are far from bare for ALAH in 2023 and look for this program to remain competitive this fall led by a solid core of returning starters on both sides of the football. The ALAH Coop has started to see more consistent success having made the IHSA state playoff field for three straight seasons and look to be in line to challenge for the Lincoln Prairie conference title along with a state playoff bid in 2023.

Byron Tigers

Head Coach: Jeff Boyer

Assistant Coaches:

Sean Considine, Eric Yerly, Chad Wilmarth, Brad Miller, Scott Spahr, Aydin Coffey, Terry Jenkins, David Norris, Logan Kribs

School Nickname/Mascot: Tigers

Team Twitter Handle:

Conference: Big Northern

2023 Regular Season schedule (if known):

Rock Falls
@ Rockford Lutheran
Rockford Christian
North Boone
@ Oregon
@ Genoa-Kingston
Winnebago
Dixon
@ Stillman Valley

Returning Offensive Starters for 2023:

1 Brayden Knoll 10 RB/C 5'8 160
5 Ashton Henkel 11 RB/S 6'1 175
23 Jacob Ross 11 RB/LB 5'5 155
29 Kye Aken 11 RB/C 5'10 155
37 Caden Considine 9 RB/LB 5'11 200
53 Josh Harris 11 OL/DL 5'8 190
65 Jared Claunch 10 OL/DL 5'11 225
81 Braylon Kilduff 11 TE/DE 6'3 190
84 Kyle Jones 11 TE/DE 5'10 180

Returning Defensive Starters for 2023:

5 Ashton Henkel 11 RB/S 6'1 175
23 Jacob Ross 11 RB/LB 5'5 155
29 Kye Aken 11 RB/C 5'10 155
33 Carsen Behn 11 RB/LB 5'8 160
37 Caden Considine 9 RB/LB 5'11 200
53 Josh Harris 11 OL/DL 5'8 190
81 Braylon Kilduff 11 TE/DE 6'3 190

Newcomers to Watch for 2023:

8 Carter Groharing 11 QB/C 6'1 160
24 Jace Wagner 11 RB/LB 6'1 165
25 Everrett Wichman 11 RB/LB 6' 175
30 Nick Ingram 11 RB/LB 5'10 170
54 Jacob Barber 11 OL/LB 5'10 190
55 Logan Burpo 10 OL/DL 5'11 205
57 Maddex Draheim 10 OL/DL 5'11 155
68 Maverick Galster 11 OL/DL 6'2 235
74 Nolan Brass 10 OL/DL 6'2 290

2023 Team 7on7 or Team Summer Camp?

Byron 7 on 7

Impact Player for Byron:

Year in and year out Byron veteran head coach Jeff Boyer has a state title contending program and don't expect that to change in 2023. The Tigers have several experienced starters back and keep an eye on junior RB/SS Ashton Henkel. Henkel is a two way impact starter for the Tigers whop will again be asked to provide production and leadership on both sides of the football this coming fall.

EDGY's Quick Take on the 2023 Byron Tigers: Byron was able to make another deep post-season run in 2022, losing to eventual Class 3A state champion ICCP in the semifinal round. Look for the Tigers to again reload and be a big factor in the Class 3A state playoff field along with the Big Northern conference. Byron had a very young team in 2022 and this team will be battle tested and more than capable of making yet another deep post-season run. Also keep an eye on freshman RB/LB Caden Considine, son of former standout Byron/Iowa and NFL player and now Byron assistant coach Sean Considine

Antioch Sequoits

Head Coach: Brian Glashagel

Assistant Coaches:

Del Pechauer, Mike Gordy, Rico Ellis, Ryan Shifley, Mitch Munda, Ben Berg, Mike Maloney, Jim Rejc, Pat Swanson, Mike Karner, Cameron Campbell, Ryan Naes, Darnell Rios, Ryan Shaputis, Ed Nobiling

School Nickname/Mascot: Sequoits

Team Twitter Handle: @sequoitfootball

Conference: Northern Lake County Conference

2023 Regular Season schedule (if known):

Week 1- @ Schaumburg
Week 2- Zion Benton
Week 3- @ Lakes
Week 4- North Chicago
Week 5- @ Grayslake North
Week 6- @ Wauconda
Week 7- @ Grant
Week 8- Grayslake Central
Week 9- Round Lake

Returning Offensive Starters for 2023:

Nick Day- RB- 5'11-200-2024
Martin Cohen-RB-6'0-175-2025
Marshall Gehrke-WR-6'5-205-2025
JT Gobeyn-OL-6'4-215-2024

Returning Defensive Starters for 2023:

Ryan Hanrahan-DL-6'0-185-2024
Ryan Swanson-DB-5'11-175-2024
Wyatt Ertl-DB-5'11-185-2025
Roddie Rathman-LB-6'3-180-2024

Newcomers to Watch for 2023:

Lucas Curry-OL/DL-6'2-220-2026
James Sheehan-QB-6'1-180-2024
Tedi Wetu-WR-6'3-170-2025
Kellen Brawner-RB/DB-5'10-165-2024
Aiden VanAlstine-DB-6'1-200-2024
Nathan Gorski-LB-5'11-175-2025

2023 Team 7on7 or Team Summer Camp?

6/27- @ Deerfield 7 on 7
7/6- @ Richmond Burton
7/12- @ Antioch 7 on 7
7/19- @ Antioch 7 on 7
7/20- @ Antoch with Lake Zurich/Kaneland for camp
7/26- @ Antioch for 7 on 7

Impact Player for Antioch:

Antioch senior RB Nick Day has been a varsity starter and a key impact player for the past few seasons. Day has gotten bigger, stronger while also possessing some seriously impressive inside and outside running ability. Day has very good field vision, is a strong and physical back who is built to carry a big part of the offensive production and should be primed for a big senior season in 2023. Overall this kid has some real game.

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EDGY's Quick Take on the 2023 Antioch Sequoits:

Antioch and veteran head coach Brian Glashagel has continued to move the Sequoits program forward and they continue to be a regular in the IHSA state playoff field along with being a Northern Lake County conference title contender. The Sequoits no question will need to do a bit of reloading this summer and will need to replace 14 graduated starters (7 offense 7 defense) but this program always has decent depth and good overall talent. Despite the questions heading into the 2023 season, I'm looking for Antioch to again be near the very top of the NLCC race and to again make it to the IHSA state playoff field in 2023. I'll say The Och winds up as a 7-2/6-3 regular season record this fall.

Has anyone seen anything posted about a camp at North Central this year? I know it's one of the bigger ones around Chicagoland, but I haven't seen anything posted and it seems like every other camp has been posted by now.

I have a HOT one brewing some details on the EDGY Nation side

St. Viator Lions

Head Coach: David Archibald

Assistant Coaches:

Vince Nardiello Tony Nagle Steve DeBosschere Br. Peter Lamick James Pittman Andrew Rangel Caleb Janschek


School Nickname/Mascot: Lions

Team Twitter Handle: @SVFootballCoach

Conference: ESCC/CCL

2023 Regular Season schedule (if known):

@ De La Salle
vs Milwaukee Riverside
vs Marian Catholic
vs Saint Patrick
@ Brother Rice
@ Carmel
@ Montini
vs St. Ignatius
@ Marmion

Returning Offensive Starters for 2023:

Ben Konopka OL 6'2" 270 2025
Cooper Kmet QB 6'2" 180 2025
Dayvion Ellis ATH 6' 170 2025
Luca Cutinello WR 5'11" 175 2024
Ryan Hutchens OL 6'1" 200 2024


Returning Defensive Starters for 2023:

Phu Truong LB 5'11" 195 2024
Driese Raap DB 5'8" 150 2024
Ethan Angst LB 5'10" 190 2025



Newcomers to Watch for 2023:

Keaton Franzen RB 2026
Zach Mascolo LB 2025
Michael Tauscher LB 2025
Michael Zawilenski LB 2025
Devin Adams LB 2024
Peter LaFleur OL/DL 2026
Jaylan Szlachetka WR/DB 2025


2023 Team 7on7 or Team Summer Camp?

Summer Practices and camp @ St. Norbert College


Impact Player for St. Viator

St. Viator played several key underclassmen names in 2022 and welcome back several names who will be multiple year varsity starters in 2023. Keep an eye on junior OL Ben Konopka (6-foot-2, 270 pounds) who has strong bloodlines (father played at Northwestern) and who also has a non stop motor. Also 2025 QB Cooper Kmet (6-foot-2, 180 pounds) also has obvious bloodlines (older brother is Chicago Bears TE Cole Kmet) who has continued to grow and develop into a top level signal caller.


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EDGY's Quick Take on the 2023 St. Viator Lions :

Life is never easy for anyone that plays in the rugged CCL/ESCC conference and that also goes for St. Viator. The Lions in 2022 needed a Week 9 win over St. Patrick to get into the Class 5A state playoff field. The Lions lost in Class 5A opening round action to Sterling to finish the 2022 season. The 2023 Lions you ask? Again St Viator welcomes back a nice core of returning starters and some impact names. The Lions 2023 season schedule is again stacked and expect several very close games all season long but I see this Viator team again having a real shot at returning to the IHSA state playoffs in 2023 and becoming say a 5-4/6-3 caliber team this fall.

The Lions will no question look for several contributions from it's underclassmen group to fill up and compete for 14 spots that graduated this past spring. A big key will be can the Lions reload at a handful of key positions this summer (DL/OL/DB) sooner rather than later this summer.

Linked is an interesting take to the NCAA now allowing kids to take unlimited official visits. In a lot of ways I agree with some of the initial reactions but the one aspect that I feel is a positive here is that many families end up making several unofficial visits on their own dime.....it gets very costly for those same families and hopefully this will allow those kids and parents some relief. Please feel free to discuss.

Cahokia (Ill.) sophomore four star ranked defensive tackle recruit Jason Dowell (6-foot-3, 275 pounds) checked in late last week and here is the latest on his recruiting process, spring and summer plans here.

"I'm in the middle of my baseball season right now so baseball has been keeping me busy. It's made it harder for me to get out this spring to visit some schools. I'm still looking at getting out to visit both Northwestern and Iowa this spring and if not the spring then maybe this summer I'll visit. I'm all set to visit Notre Dame on April 22nd for it's spring game. One school I'm definitely planning to go and visit and camp with this summer is Ohio State. I know my coaches at school havebeen in touch with some of the Ohio State coaches and we are4 looking at dates when I can visit and camp with them in June."

Dowell is also gearing up for what is expected to be a big spring evaluation period.

"I know that a lot of the colleges I speak with have said they are planning to be back in school over the next few weeks to watch out tram workouts. We had a decent amount of college coaches in school back in January and we are expecting even more colleges this spring. We start our football team camp in June and I'll be all ready to go for the summer team camp."

Jason Dowell has multiple scholarship offers.

EDGY's Take on Jason Dowell: Dowell was easily one of the most advanced names I saw live in the Class of 2025 and just his frame, physical tools along with his potential to continue to get bigger and stronger over the next year. Dowell is also a kid who's well mature beyond his years off the field and is a kid with just a terrific overall personality. Dowell so far has added some impressive early offers....but in many ways I feel Dowell will still be able to get a major burst this spring and early sumner with his recruiting stock. I'm very surprised to see several Big Ten schools along with several other Power 5 schools who recruit this state not having offered Dowell just yet. Rivals has Jason Dowell as a 4 star name in the Class of 2025 and I fully agree that this kid is a monster player and recruit to watch down the line.


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Dundee Crown Chargers

Head Coach: Michael Steinhaus

Assistant Coaches:

Mike Davis, Brad Smeele, Jim Wormsley, Bob Skillman, Matt Michalski, Marcus Harbuck, Tim Hayes, and Matt D'Angelo

School Nickname/Mascot: Chargers

Team Twitter Handle: @DCHSChargersFB

Conference: Fox Valley Conference

2023 Regular Season schedule (if known):

1. @Crystal Lake South
2. @Burlington Central
3. Crystal Lake Central
4. @McHenry
5. Jacobs
6. Prairie Ridge
7. Hampshire
8. @Huntley
9. @Cary-Grove


Returning Offensive Starters for 2023:

Zach Randle/QB/5'8/170/SR.
Kali Freeman/WR/6'0/185/SR.
Torrion Bell/WR/5'10/165/SR.
Jett Boerger/RB/5'10/185/SR.
Kyle Pribel/WR/5'10/188/SR.
Anthony Rubio/OL/6'1/285/SR.
Rudy Rassumussen/OL/5'10/265/SR.

Returning Defensive Starters for 2023:

Max Del Rio/DL/5'10/220/SR.
Fernando Chaidez/DL/5'10/230/SR.
Anthony Jobe/LB/6'2/180/JR.
Sal Raja/LB/5'9/190/SR.
Kali Freeman/DB/6'0/185/SR.

Newcomers to Watch for 2023:

Hayden Demarsh QB/TE
Terrion Spencer RB


2023 Team 7on7 or Team Summer Camp?

Northern Illinois,
Maine West Tournament,
Chicago Bears at Willow Brook.

Impact Player for Dundee-Crown

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Dundee Crown senior WR/DB Kali Freeman (6-foot-0, 185 pounds) is a key two way starter and leader for the Chargers over the past few seasons. Freeman is a very capable receiver who has very good hands and ball skills. Freeman is also a plus defender for the Chargers who is strong in both pass coverage along with in run support. Look for Freeman to draw increased recruiting looks and attention this spring and summer.

EDGY's Quick Take on the 2023 Dundee Crown Chargers :

Dundee Crown and head coach Mike Steinhaus is an alum of the school who has been able to get this Chargers program playing much better and much more consistent football in his tenure. No question Dundee-Crown still has a ways to go to develop into a power in the always strong Fox Valley Conference....a task that is much harder than people might expect. Yet this team and program is always well coached, presents a bit of a change offensively compared to the rest of the generally run heavy FVC and is always pretty competitive even in last season's 2-7 overall record.

With 12 returning starters back in the fold for the 2023 season, I can see the Chargers wind up as say a possible 4-5 type of team this fall. Winning early in the season is no question a major key for DC as the schedule to close out the regular season is stacked taking on Prairie Ridge, @ Huntley and @ Cary Grove to close out the regular season slate.

Cancer patient and all-stater.