GBN Football Hopes to Make Playoff Run

By almost any definition, Glenbrook North’s (GBN) football team had a successful season last year, but it didn’t end the way the players wanted.

Despite an 8-1 record and , the 31-21 left a bitter taste for the Spartans.

“Our goal set from the beginning of last year was to go farther in the playoffs,” said senior Jason Scholl. “We had an unbelievable regular season and obviously fell short in that first game of the playoffs.”

is back for his third year on varsity along with all-conference offensive lineman Mike Ermel and Scholl, last year’s leading tackler, all of whom give good reason for optimism in Spartans’ camp.

Bigger Rushing looks to improve on 2010

The junior ran for 17 touchdowns and more than 1,100 yards last season, but after adding 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason and working with a speed coach to get that extra burst, Rushing hopes to become one of the state’s best running backs.

“If I had to set individual goals, definitely get more yards and more touchdowns than I did last year,” he said.

Of course, Rushing said he prefers winning to individual accolades, but if he puts up bigger numbers than last year’s stellar campaign, the wins will come.

In front of him, the offensive line will be anchored by two returning starters, junior Paul Boidanis and senior Ermel. Sophomore Brady Nagel will make the jump to varsity alongside senior Mike Reid, who saw varsity action last year, and junior Kyle Caraher.

“He’s going to be a tough runner,” coach Bob Pieper said of Rushing. “It will be fun to watch [him] against somebody else because he’s been pounding on our guys.”

Petty takes over at quarterback

After beating out three other quarterbacks this summer, senior Curt Petty replaces Zach Hilgendorf under center.

Petty, who played in the secondary last year, was named the starter last week after  and in early practices.

“We had four good kids, four tough kids fighting for that spot,” Pieper said. “We felt comfortable with all of them, but right now he’s kind of taken the No. 1 spot.”

Pieper said Petty’s running ability was a weapon that should cause problems for opposing defenses.

Senior wide receivers Trevor Ponticelli and Chad Bruce contributed to last year's victories, while classmate Ethan Schmidt joined the football team after focusing on basketball in previous years and should give Petty another speedy option.

Scholl looks to lead Spartan defense

Scholl was a key cog in GBN’s defense last season, but middle linebacker won’t be his only role this year.

He will play fullback, plowing holes for Rushing and allowing him to hit people on both sides of the ball.

“That’s my thing, always be the rough guy, put the head in there and put on the hits,” Scholl said. “It’s a lot of work, but I’m ready for it.”

He understands that the defense will look to him to make the big plays, but Scholl will have some help at linebacker with John Boidanis and Alex Griffin back in the fold.

The defensive line features no returning starters, but three players—seniors Niko Kollias and Tomaz Marinelli and junior Paul Boidanis—who got some varsity snaps last season.

Nagel rounds out the defensive line, meaning he will be a two-way starter as a sophomore.

“He’s a tough kid,” Pieper said. “He played really well on the freshman level last year and had a good offseason in the weight room. He deserves to be on this team and starting.”

Hersey’s option attack makes for tough opener

The Spartans open the season in Northbrook, and it will be a tough test.

The Huskies in Arlington Heights were just 3-6 last year and 0-5 in the Mid Suburban League East, but they return senior quarterback Brad Zaucha and a number of other skill position players.

The team showed improvement under coach Dragan Teonic in his first year and runs a spread no-huddle option-style offense that will make for tough assignments for the Spartan defense.