By Drake Skleba
For the Bugle
Are you ready for some football!!!!
On Friday Night, August 24, the 22 Voyager Media Publications, football-playing schools, will kick off their 2018 season. The Voyager Media Publications Terrific Ten Football Preseason rankings leader, Maine South, will host the state-ranked, powerhouse Hilltoppers of Glenbard West.
Last year the Hawks, invaded historic Duchon Field, on the campus of Glenbard West and annihilated the Hilltoppers 62-34, in the 2017 season opener. Hilltopper head coach Chad Hewlitt and his Hilltoppers, have been pointing to Friday night’s game, for a whole year!
The other Friday night nonconference spectacular will feature the loaded Raiders of Bolingbrook, hosting neighborhood-rival Downers Grove South, in their annual grudge-match. Last season, the Raiders blasted the Mustangs, 35-10 at DGS.
Our eight Southwest Prairie Conference schools open up SPC action.
Downers North will open their 2018 season at Carstens Field, against the 2017 Mid-Suburban East Conference champions, from Buffalo Grove.
Joliet Catholic Academy and Notre Dame of Niles, from the East Suburban Catholic Conference, will be in action.
Maine East, of the Central Suburban North and Niles West of the Central Suburban South, will open their 2019 campaigns.
Last but not least, Lisle of the Interstate 8 Conference and newly-independent Westmont will open up their 2018 seasons, on Friday.
On Saturday, Benet Academy of the East Suburban Catholic Conference and Lockport of the Southwest Suburban Conference will participate in Northern Illinois University’s Huskies Kickoff Classic. The Redwings will take on Chicago Catholic League White Division power, St. Laurence at 3 p.m. The Porters will take on Chicago Catholic League Blue Division power, Providence Catholic, at 6 at Huskie Stadium.
Glenbard West at Maine South Wilson Field 7 p.m.
The Hilltoppers finished 9-2 in 2017, winning another West Suburban Conference Silver Division championship,before falling to Oswego 24-20, in a Class 7A second-round game. In 2018, the Hilltoppers return 1,000-yard rusher, Tyquan Cox and seven returnees, from the Hilltoppers’ 2017 defense.
Maine South went 10-2 in 2017 and won another Central Suburban Conference, South Division title. Both Hawk losses in ’17, were to the eventual, Class 8A State Champions, from Lincoln-Way East. The Griffins won 28-26 in Week 2 in Park Ridge and a 24-14 Class 8A Quarterfinal game, in Frankfort.
Maine South’s career rushing and scoring leader Fotis Kokosioulis has moved on to NIU. The Hawks return nine starters from the 2017 defense, led by linebackers Danny Wolf and Jimmy Bartell. Wolf and Bartell, will be in the offensive backfield, as well, in 2018.
After starring at wide receiver, as a junior, Bobby Inserra, the son of Hawk head coach Dave Inserra, will share quarterback duties,with Cole Dow. Both will try to make up for the loss, of the talented, 2017 Hawk senior quarterback, John O’Sullivan.
DRAKE – Maine South 17 Glenbard West 10
MARK – Maine South 21, Glenbard West 17
Downers Grove South at Bolingbrook Friday 7
The Mustangs of DGS, are led by defensive standouts DL Ali Issa and CB Jaelynn Bleck. Look for the fleet-footed, RB/WR Jayden Lambert, to be making plays all over the field, for the Mustang offense.
“The Brook” is loaded for head coach John Ivlow, led by 1,000-yard running back Quentin Pringle and fullback Anthony Williams, Jr. Quarterback Devyn Suggs, a transfer from Homewood-Flossmoor, will throw to returning junior wide receiver, Antonio King. Northwestern-bound CB Cameron Mitchell, will lead the Raider defense.
DRAKE – Bolingbrook 35 Downers Grove South 7
MARK – Bolingbrook 38 DGS 14
Benet Academy vs. St. Laurence – Northern Illinois University Saturday 3
Redwing head coach Pat New, returns sevens defensive starters from 2017’s, vaunted Class 7A semifinalist, defense. The Redwing “D” will be led by defensive linemen, Jack Benish and Jake Snell. The Redwing offense, returns quarterback, Jack Cooney and fullback Ben Hickey.
DRAKE – Benet Academy 24 St. Laurence 14
MARK – Benet 35 St. Laurence 10
Lockport vs. Providence Catholic – Northern Illinois University Saturday 6
Porter head coach Dave Starkey and returning offensive linemen, Ray Pustelnik, Chris Walus and Payton Collins will lead the Porters onto the Bingham Field turf, at NIU. Two-year Porter quarterback Jake Karli decided to concentrate on basketball and did not come out for Football. The Porters are looking for big things from their new junior staring quarterback Marcos Vulgaris.
DRAKE – Providence 21 Lockport 7
MARK – Lockport 14 Providence 13
SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE CONFERENCE
Plainfield Central at Oswego Friday 7
Second-year Wildcat head coach, Jon Pereiro, looks to improve, on his complete turn-around 2017 Plainfield Central season. The Wildcats ended their 39-game losing streak and just missed making the playoffs, winning four games in Piero’s first season. 1400-yards passing, Wildcat senior quarterback Justin Divelbiss decided to concentrate on baseball and did not come out for football. Wide receiver, Reese Lillie, returns, to lead the ‘Cats into the home of the seven-time, defending Southwest Prairie Conference champions, from Oswego.
DRAKE – Oswego 24 Plainfield Central 7
MARK – Oswego 35 Plainfield Central 10
Plainfield South at Minooka Friday 7
John Belskis won 201 games and a Class 6A state football championship, at Downers Grove South. Belskis, looks for victory No. 1, as first-year Minooka Indians’ head coach,tonight. The Indians are led by junior wingback, Connor Etzkorn and junior Steven Gonzales.
Offensive/defensive lineman 6-4, 240 pound Kyle Williamson also returns.
Second year Plainfield South, head coach, Bill Bicker, leads the Cougars down Ridge Road, to Minooka,behind senior quarterback Cody Dieball. Defensive lineman, Adriel Montemayor, returns to anchor the rugged Cougar defense.
DRAKE – Minooka 14 Plainfield South 7
MARK – Minooka 28 Plainfield South 7
Joliet Central at Romeoville Friday 7
Steelmen head coach Brett Boyter, welcomes back senior captains, quarterback Jared King and defensive end, Damaris Stanley.
Second-year Romeoville, head coach, Oliver Gibson, looks for the Spartan defense, led by Jabril Williams, Kelvyn Assamoah and Joe Vasquez, to keep the Spartans in games until young Spartan “O” gets on track
DRAKE – Joliet Central 21 Romeoville 14
MARK – Joliet Central 14 Romeoville 13
Plainfield East at Oswego East Friday 7
Second-year Bengal head coach Terrence Terry, welcomes back senior quarterback Ben Mazurkiewicz. In 2017 Mazurkiewicz, passed for over 1,400 yards and had 12 touchdown passes. Fleet-footed tailback, Justin Pringle, also returns and looks to run wild at Oswego East, on Friday.
DRAKE – Oswego East 35 Plainfield East 20
MARK – Oswego East 42 Plainfield East 14
Joliet West at Plainfield North Friday 7
The Aubry’s, Tiger head coach Jason and quarterback Jaxson, have moved to Elgin. First-year, Tiger head coach, Bill Lech, welcomes back standout, Tiger receiver Kevon Dorris and running back,Jaylen Taylor, from 2017’s playoff squad.
Plainfield North’s three-sport star, quarterback Brady Miller, is now at Western Michigan but Tigers head coach Tim Kane, welcomes back, arguably the swiftest running back, in the nation, in junior Marcellus Moore. This spring, Moore took home four, IHSA Track State Championship medals. From the Tigers’ Class 4A State Baseball Champions, 2018 starting quarterback Greg Budig and WR Garret Jones, will lead the Tiger offense. Also from the baseball state champions, hard-hitting linebacker Nate Curtis returns t lead the Tiger “D”
DRAKE – Plainfield North 35 Joliet West 13
MARK – Plainfield North 42 Joliet West 7
Nonconference
St. Rita at Joliet Catholic Academy Friday 7
Hilltopper second-year coach, Jake Jaworski welcomes Chicago Catholic League Blue Division power St. Rita to Memorial Stadium in Joliet, tonight. Hilltoppers are led by their “Dynamic Duo” running backs, senior Keenan Hailey and junior Kenyetta Williams, who rushed for over 1,500 yards in 2017
DRAKE – JCA 28 St. Rita 27
MARK – St. Rita 21 JCA 17
Notre Dame at Geneva Friday 7
2017 East Suburban Catholic Conference Player of the Year, Ty Gavin, lead the Dons to Kane County, to take on the Vikings of Geneva. Don quarterback, Bill Schutt, also returns from 2017. Don head coach Mike Hennessey, looks to lead Dons, back into the playoffs, after making the playoffs in ’17
DRAKE – Notre Dame 35 Geneva 14
MARK – ND 42 Geneva 10
Buffalo Grove at Downers Grove North Friday 7
First-year Trojan head football coach, Joe Horeni, welcomes back, junior defensive back, Drew Cassens, as the defending Mid-Suburban League East Division champion, Bison from Buffalo Grove, invade Carstens Field on Friday night. Horeni looks for big things from the multi-talented Cassens, who will take over at quarterback, for the Trojans, this season.
DRAKE – Buffalo Grove 28 Downers Grove North 14
MARK – DGN 24 Buffalo Grove 21
De La Salle at Niles West Friday at 7
Wolve’s head coach, Jesse Pierce, looks to open the 2018 season,in style, against their guests from the Bronzeville, section of Chicago.
DRAKE – De La Salle 42 Niles West 21
MARK – Niles West 21 De La Salle 20
Fenton at Maine East Friday at 7
First-year Demon head coach Robert Winkle leads the Demons, in their home opener, against the Bison of Fenton.
DRAKE – Fenton 38 Maine East 28
MARK – Fenton 35 Maine East 7
Westmont at Seneca Friday at 7
The newly independent Sentinels, head down to Seneca to take on their old Interstate 8 foe, the Fighting Irish. Second-year head coach Dan Woulfe, leads Westmont on a journey this fall, that has them heading down to downstate powers, Quincy Notre Dame, Salem and Westville. On September 14, the Sentinels will welcome their guests, from Wallaceburg, Ontario, Canada.
DRAKE – Seneca 28 Westmont 20
MARK – Seneca 21 Westmont 14
VOYAGER MEDIA PUBLICATIONS TERRIFIC 10 PRESEASON FOOTBALL RANKINGS
1 – MAINE SOUTH
2 – BOLINGBROOk
3 – BENET ACADEMY
4 – NOTRE DAME
5 – JOLIET CATHOLIC ACADEMY
6 – PLAINFIELD NORTH
7 – MINOOKA
8 – DOWNERS GROVE SOUTH
9 – PLAINFIELD SOUTH
10 – PLAINFIELD CENTRAL