Patch Football Preseason Rankings

Patch sports reporter Ross Jacobson ranks the North Shore’s best football teams.

While power rankings take season record into consideration, more recent results and news, including known injuries, have a bigger influence than early season victories or losses. They also are completely and utterly subjective in evaluating the teams in the Central Suburban leagues

PRESEASON RANKINGS

1. Maine South – As the three-time defending Class 8A state champions, there are few teams in Illinois--let alone the country--that could match up with the Hawks. Quarterback Matt Alviti returns for his junior season and he will have plenty of help in the backfield with senior running back Paul Preston.
2. Loyola Academy – If not for Maine South, we could be talking about the Ramblers as back-to-back state champions. But losses to the Hawks in the state semifinals over the past two seasons leave the incoming group hungrier than ever to finally get over that hurdle. Senior QB Malcom Weaver and wide receiver Charlie Dowdle will be key cogs for the Ramblers on offense.
3. Glenbrook North – With the graduation of two-year starter Zack Hilgendorf, Glenbrook North coach Bob Pieper started this football season with an open competition for quarterback. Seniors Matt Hoyer and Curt Petty figure to be the leading candidates. Whoever is taking the ball under center will get some help from junior RB Grant Rushing, who had 17 touchdowns last year.
4. Glenbrook South – Coach Mike Noll knows he won’t be able replace All-State running back John Strickland, who graduated in June, but he is hoping an entirely new backfield will help the Titans get to the playoffs for the seventh straight season. Senior Mac Zabriskie and junior Max Cohen are battling for the quarterback spot while seniors Sully Stadler and Zach Jones come back as top receiving options.
5. New Trier – Jack Nykaza will finally get his chance to start at quarterback after a hand injury last season facilitated him becoming a running back. With more than 700 rushing yards last year, we know Nykaza is a good athlete, but can he keep defenses off balance with a steady passing attack as well?
6. Deerfield – QB Brad Holway comes back with the hopes of getting Deerfield back into the playoffs. The Warriors missed out by one playoff point after they finished the regular season at 5-4, including losses in their final two games. Holway’s ability to be a better passer will be one of the big keys for Deerfield. 
7. Highland Park – The Giants return only three starters from a team that barely sneaked into the playoffs last season at 5-5. RB Nate Echt will be called upon to carry the load offensively for a team that QB Cody Pantle and WR Cole Stern.
8. Evanston – The Wildkits made the playoffs last year, thanks in large part to RB Rendell Massie. He rushed for 315 yards against Niles North in Evanston’s 38-37 victory in Week 3. But with a new quarterback--senior Max Block who played safety last year-- and graduation of Rendell Massie, there are major question marks for the Wildkits offense.
9. Niles North – Niles North loses a number of starters from last year’s 3-6 squad, including All-state linebacker George Neuhaus. We’ll see early on how new QB Billy Voitik handles the step up to the varsity level and if RB Oshayne Brown can fill in for Sam Sharples, who had a majority of the carries for the Vikings last year.
10. Maine West – A record of 2-7 each of the past three seasons is not the consistency Maine West is seeking in being competitive. Still a relatively young and inexperienced squad, the Warriors will need big seasons from WRs Brion Lambert and Raul Anaya and consistent quarterback play from Dan O’Hara or Sean Burke.
11. Niles West – Coach Scott Baum was excited about the plethora of high-level athletes he had at running back and wide receiver during summer camp. Can junior Mike McGivern consistently get the ball to those playmakers will be the Wolves’ major question mark on offense.

Check here for the Central Suburban North league schedule or here for the Central Suburban South league schedule as part of the Illinois High School Association's listings.

(Covering the Patch communities of Skokie, Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka, Niles, Highland Park, Glenview, Deerfield, Morton Grove, Des Plaines and Northbrook.)