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KM J IM1 AIMH >IIRM.\/I I II s| I'll Mia H / At i_ ; Early favorite CL South boasts 'new tradition' By Greg Ives Piaindealer News Service CRYSTAL LAKE -- Move over, Cubs. There's another "new tradition brewing on the south side of Crystal Lake. It's a tradition of winning rather t h a n m e d i o c r i t y . O n e o f thoroughbreds rather than plow horses. One of brawn rather than flab. One of contender rather than also-ran. It's been six years in the mak­ ing. The first four were of the trial-and-error variety. The last two have Crystal Lake South foot­ ball followers believing their Gators will no longer be the little runts on the block, as in years long forgotten. South's rise to the Fox Valley Conference's upper echelon began two years ago with a league cham­ pionship and an appearance in the IHSA state football playoffs. Last year was ticketed for remodeling, with green juniors dotting Coach Bob Hight's depth chart. Those underclassmen, however, started slow, moved into high gear, and won five of their last six games to tie Crystal Lake Central for second in the FVC race with a 4-2 record, 6-3 overall. State Class 4A champ Woodstock was the Gators' lone blemish in those last half dozen games. With the build-up of steam left over from the 1983 campaign, Hight and Crew are in a position others dream about -- returning starters all over the place. That also hangs the team-to-beat label on the Gators. "The easy way out of that state­ ment is to say it's nice to be pick­ ed^ Hight said. "But there cer­ tainly is a lot of pressure that goes with it. And it's certainly going to be difficult for a team to go t h r o u g h o u r c o n f e r e n c e undefeated, I'd be surprised if somebody did." Hight, however, is looking at a team loaded with muscle like he's never had before. "This team showed up in tremendous shape physically," Hight said. "I've never had a team as strong, or with as much enthusiasm, that this team seems to have. "Less than 15 percent (of the players) is under a 200-pound bench (press). Four years ago, I had one kid who could bench 250 pounds. There's probably 20 this year." That strength is showing up all over. No offensive starting lineman weighs less than 170 pounds. As South prepares for its first encounter of the 1984 kind against state Class 2A titleholder Marian Central Friday night, Hight's big concern is depth. "We worked very hard on strength and conditioning this summer and we're going to need it because we don't seem to be very deep," the Gator skipper said. "There are 10 kids sitting out there who we've got to pick up before the season starts. The talent's there, but we're lacking game experience in some spots and that aspect is going to hurt us -- early, anyway." Hight should have no trouble figuring out the offensive and defensive lines, areas with size that would make Northern Illinois University's football squad en­ vious. Heading the trenches is 6-foot-3, 223-pound senior John Broadhead, who is targeted for return assignments at offensive tackle and defensive end. Dean Bar- chard (6-3, 218), who started at of­ fensive tackle last season, is not far behind. Neither is offensive tackle Art Ferraro (6-1, 208), who started on defense last season. Dave Tayeh (5-9, 175) is Hight's center and returns at defensive end and Bruce Reiss (5-9, 170) lines up at offensive guard and linebacker on defense.- T h e r e m a i n i n g o f f e n s i v e lineman is senior Steve Schaper (6-1,190), who starts at guard and defensive linebacker. With the success Woodstock had in last year's state football playoffs, major college scouts will be taking the FVC more seriously. Two players they'll be casting at­ tentive eyes on are Greg Schultz and Paul Prentice, a pair of all- conference athletes who'll give Hight solid performances on both sides of the neutral zone. Schultz starred at linebacker last season and backed up departed Jim Foley at tailback. Both jobs are his this season and a blistering 4.49 in the 40 will make it tough for any teammate to pull him out of the starting lineup. "That (4.49) is no lie," Hight said. "That's hand timed, but there were two people on that watch. When you see him run you'll understand why that's fast." Prentice was listed ?s one of 1984's premier defensive backs in C h i c a g o l a n d b y s e v e r a l newspaper polls of collegiate scouts and his seven interceptions last season at safety are reason why the durable senior is con­ sidered a major college prospect. He'll also double as starting quarterback, a position he went 2- 1 at while filling in for injured Doug Meyer last season. "He can throw the ball very well," Hight added. "He certainly has a very strong arm right now. His only fault is he doesn't have a lot of game experience and that's certainly not his fault." Starters also return at wide receiver, where Chris Kardys and o Best Of Luck r O ! o 8 For thm Upcomln Football Soasonl Yogi Bear's Mini Golf 1914 S. Rt 47, Woodstock 815-338-7990 Rt. 31 North of McHenry 815-385-6823 Mickey Carnes move into their senior years. Both will rejoin Prentice in the defensive $gcon- dary. The fullback spot is between senior Jeff Beck (5-8, 160) and junior Vince Hellem (5-11, 194). Tight end is a battle between junior Bill Schlies (6-0, 194) and senior Brian Scanlon (5-10,175). Hight calls the Gators' schedule their toughest ever. Few, If any, teams in the state will be playing two defending state champs. Toss in Mid-Suburban League Palatine and Upstate Eight Conference foe Lake Park and South faces an uphill nonconference fight. •mmmmmw "T CL SOUTH QB PAUL PRENTICE j6e m. pesz COMPLETE DESIGN AND LANDSCAPING (312) 639-9321 "Hydro-Seeding Our Specialty" 27 years' Personalized Service CaH Us Sewer and Septic Field Installation Sodding* Patio & Walls Hauling &. Excavating