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I'V.I 11.11 MM* III MMIMItfl*;* . I'lHJ f By Steve Metsch PUhxtoaler News Service CRYSTAL LAKE - Bill Mack faces several interesting problems as he heads into his 17th varsity football season at Crystal Lake Central. But that's what makes coaching fun. "It's a lot of things/' said Mack, who is starting his 23rd year as a head coach, "but it's never bor­ ing." Central seldom is. And the perennial Fox Valley Conference contender should be right in the thick of things this fall. Mack and his assistants won't be without hurdles, however. For while the Tigers find themselves well-stocked in areas like the backfield, they are searching for answers on defense/ and at quarterback. "We'll have to develop a quarterback. We're fonunate. It's been a long time since we didn't have an ail-conference quarter­ back, but any one of the four can play," Mack said. Brad Merkle (5-foot-ll, 158 pounds) leads the quartet. "We're kind of in a situation where now Merkle as a senior has the edge. He has a little stronger arm, also.The first couple of games will be good tests" Mack said. Juniors Chris Diserio (5-9, 135) and Scott Norris (5-11, 150) and sophomore Rob Prosniewski (5-10, 135) are waiting in the wings. Senior Mike Simpson (5-9, 150) is out with an ankle injury, but is ex­ pected back. Central opens Friday night at Metcalf Field with non-c6nference Montini, which beat Crystal Lake South in 1982's IHSA playoff opener. The Tigers visit West Chicago Sept. 14 and open the FVC slate Sept. 22 at Cary-Grove. The quarterback spot may be open, but whoever takes the snaps will have a familiar person to hand off to. Sturdy senior Jared Sass& has returned. "With his "experience and leadership, we're looking for him to be a good football player. But we always have felt that to be a legitimate contender, you have to have balance, you have to be able to run and throw," Mack said. Sasser (6-0, 220) scored 15 touchdowns last year. But he's the only returning starter from an im­ pressive backfield. Gone are tailback Kevin" Howard (1.073 yards), wingback Mike Herr- ington (600) and quarterback Todd Howell (900 passing). Seniors Bryan Hansen (6-0,185) and Sean Parkin '5-11,160) are the leading tailback candidates, and Junior Whut Friese (5-10, 148) is the top wingback contender, Mack said. CL CENTRAL COACH BILL MACK "We play a four-back offense, our quarterback runs, too. We're not an I-formation team by any means. We don't have any great speed, but we'll be good and quick in the backfield. And of course there's only one way to get ex­ perience for quarterbacks," Mack said. "I'd say with consistent quarterbacking and development of the offense line, our offensse ap­ pears to be pretty solid. Senior George Marcus (5-9,175) is the only returning starter on the line. "So, again, we need exper- rience in a hurry. I really think we have intelligence and ability to have a pretty good offensieve line, but we're inexperienced and time will have to tell," Mack said. Senior Mark Statter (6-2, 183), Friese and senior Brian Roewer (6-1, 162) are the key receivers. Expect Sasser and Co. to catch their share of passes, too. "We've scored 20 plus points a game for 10 years, but that's history. We're not a big-play team, we hope to be somewhat, but we don't have a big-play nature of strong passing or outstanding speed. But we should be consistent on offense," Mack said. "The big question mark is our defense. We have several players going both ways early. If we play a legitimate defense, I think we'll be failry solid if we don't get caught in a scoring race because we're not going to outrun people," Mack said. The secondary has drawn close attention. "We're inexperienced in the secondary. That's where I think you start with your defense. If you have a good secondary, good things start to happen. You don't give up big plays. You don't get fooled," he said. Safety Steve Glanz (6-2,182) has been moved to defensive end. "We'll try to utilize his skills a lit­ tle more. He has the potential to make _some big plays. If we develop a solid secondary and play good defense in the middle, then we'll be OK," Mack said. Hansen, Sasser and Merkle are three of several Tigers slated for double duty. Hansen will be a linebacker, Sasser an end and Merkle a safety. "That's going to be a key -- n some of our best players have to play well both ways. We have five or six seniors better than the others who have to play both ways. But we did alright (9-0) when Tom Pence played saftey and quarterback," Mack said. The defensive line is low on size. "We haven't had any for a while. Most of our defensive players will be under 175. We'll have to develop, but most of your real outstanding highh school footbal players are under 200. "To be a legitimate contender, you have to have balance. You have to be able to run and throw." -Bill Mack Sasser and Tom Dodge (5-10, 150) will place kick. Roewer and Friese are the punters. Fourty- nine players, 24 seniors and one sophomore, quarterback Rob Pro­ sniewski, form the team. Mack calls South "the clear favorite in my mind," but also thinks Woodstock, Jacobs, McHenry and Dundee-Crown have shots at the FVC.title. __ "I think the quality of the league last year was proven by Woodstock winning state (Class 4A), but by no means running away with the league I look for a similar league this year.* "If we score in a couple of close games at the right time, we could have a shot. If not, we could be at the bottom of the barrell," said Mack, who enters the season with a career record of 124-62-5. Central's Mack faces many hurdles in 17th year BEST WISHES FOR SUCCESS THIS SEASON! LEX LUMBER 909 Front Str**t. McHvnry 1 S15-385-1424 Virginia (Cut-Off Rd.) 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