Sports
VIDEO: Spartan Football Searches For Star QB
Four quarterbacks are vying for the starting job this fall at Glenbrook North..
It’s no easy task replacing the quarterback of a conference champion. And that’s why Glenbrook North coach Bob Pieper is happy to have a plethora of options.
The Spartans used Tuesday’s Central Suburban League – Mid-Suburban League 7-on-7 summer camp to showcase each of its four candidates for the starting quarterback spot.
“We just like to see what kind of kids we’re going to have out here competing,” Pieper said. “We just like to get a good look at our kids, see what they can do.”
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Glenbrook North played five 30-minute scrimmages against different teams from the Mid Suburban League. The camp was centered on passing, as players did not wear pads and no offensive or defensive linemen participated.
Pieper gave each quarterback a shot by having a different one throw in each game. Seniors Curt Petty and Matt Hoyer and juniors TJ Tedeschi and Cody Bolan are all vying to replace Zack Hilgendorf, who was also a captain last season.
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Hilgendorf led Glenbrook North to an 8-2 record last year, but the Spartans were knocked out by No. 10 Harlem, 31-21, in the first round of the IHSA 8A State Playoffs.
Pieper looked for his four quarterbacks to make the right reads and the right throws, seeing what the defense is giving and what passing options are open. Footwork was not as big of a priority because there is no pass-rush and the Spartans devote drills in practice to getting their feet right.
“I thought they did a nice job, Pieper said. “We moved the ball pretty well on offense and caught the ball pretty well. I was kind of pleased with the way our quarterbacks went.”
Even without Hilgendorf, the Spartans return rising junior running back Grant Rushing, who ran for 1,165 yards and 17 touchdowns last season. Rushing will try to improve upon those numbers even though he will be running behind a new offensive line.
The returning experience should help Glenbrook North early on in the season, but the 7-on-7 camp helped evaluate the younger players who will be coming up to the varsity level for the first time.
The Spartans have 54 players in training camp – which Pieper says is a good number for Glenbrook North – and will have a couple more 7-on-7 sessions with other teams before the summer's over.
And while the quarterback situation is still up in the air, Pieper is happy with the progress made so far.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do still, but we‘ve gotten a lot better since the beginning of the summer,” Pieper said. “That’s all we can ask, is for them to get better.”
