Defending North Suburban Conference champion Warren takes the top spot but is just one of multiple teams with many starters returning.
TOP 10 TEAMS
1. Warren (9-3): The Blue Devils have 17 starters back after winning the North Suburban Conference and reaching the Class 8A quarterfinals last year. Junior running back Aaron Stewart (1,683 yards, 19 TDs) and senior quarterback Jack Wolf will lead the offense. Junior X’Zavion Montgomery does a little bit of everything and will be deployed in all three phases.
2. Carmel (10-2): All eyes will be on sophomore phenom Trae Taylor, who enters his first season as the Corsairs’ starter ranked as one of the nation’s top quarterbacks in his class. Senior Jarren Black and junior Kai Owens give Taylor two experienced targets, and senior running back Donovan Dey (1,411 yards, 22 TDs) returns for his third varsity season. Helping make the offense go is senior left tackle Tommy Lamberti, one of the area’s top linemen. Carmel has a senior standout at each level defensively with nose tackle Noah Jackson-Briscoe, linebacker Dominic Delorme and cornerback Jordan McKie.
3. Stevenson (7-3): Like conference rival Warren, the Patriots have 17 starters returning, headlined by junior quarterback Aidan Crawley. He was remarkably efficient last season, completing 61% of his passes for 17 TDs and just four interceptions. Among his favorite targets will be junior tight end Zach Becker (6 TDs), as well as seniors Thomas Simmons and Zach Hersh on the perimeter. Junior running back Frank Costabile (1,045 yards, 10 TDs) also returns. Two all-conference linebackers, senior Griffin Suren and junior D’Angelo Washington (89 tackles), lead the charge defensively.
4. Antioch (10-1): Sustained success has become the hallmark of coach Brian Glashagel’s tenure, as the Sequoits aim for at least a share of their conference title for the eighth time in nine full seasons. Senior running back Martin Cohen (1,209 yards, 23 total TDs), the Northern Lake County Conference offensive player of the year and a Class 5A all-state pick, will run behind a line that returns three starters, including all-conference senior guard Makay Mountcastle and versatile senior Doug Swanson. One of Antioch’s few two-way players, senior Wyatt Ertl, will spell Cohen. All-conference senior defensive end Alexander Bustamante and senior middle linebacker Nathan Gorski are headliners on defense.
5. Lake Zurich (11-2): The Bears are coming off consecutive state semifinal appearances, and taking a step back isn’t part of the plan. As with most of their successful teams, this group will be strong in the trenches, notably with bookend senior tackles Jacob Wilk (Western Michigan) and Max Maj. They’ll help clear holes for the rushing trio of seniors Alex Pirrone and John Howe and junior Kaden Abrantes. Senior quarterback Cole Kenyon, who got some action last season, will target senior wide receiver Jackson Piggott (471 yards). Senior safety Coplan Oettinger (88 tackles, four interceptions), senior linebacker George DiCanio (78 tackles) and senior nose tackle Nate Snep are three of seven defensive starters back from a unit that held seven of 13 opponents to 10 points or less.
6. Wauconda (8-3): A fourth straight playoff appearance would be a first for the Bulldogs. Among the notable returning players in place to help achieve that goal is senior quarterback Logan Olson (895 yards, 8 TDs), whose command of the offense is integral. Junior Jackson Rudolph, an all-conference linebacker, will have a larger role on offense and run behind senior center Liam Carney. Joining Carney as a difference-maker on defense is junior defensive back Nicholas Ori (4 interceptions).
7. Deerfield (4-5): The Warriors’ Class of 2025 was highlighted years ago for its talent and depth, and many of those players are poised to lead a postseason push. Third-year starting quarterback Mac Jones (1,700 yards, 18 TDs) can spread the ball around with running back Quinn Schimanski (1,019 yards, 7 TDs), wide receivers Zach Friedman (37 catches, 440 yards) and Jack Moros (29 catches, 263 yards), and tight end Jack Berger (26 catches, 341 yards). On defense, it’s hard to miss linebacker Nate Margulis (120 tackles, 8 sacks), but he’ll get help from linebacker Mason Venamore (96 tackles) and safety Harrison Erdman.
8. Libertyville (5-5): Third-year starting quarterback Quinn Schambow (2,505 yards, 31 TDs, 6 INTs) leads an offense that will likely pose problems for the Wildcats’ opponents. He will throw to junior wide receiver Blaise LaVista (1,091 yards, 15 TDs), senior wide receiver Stevan Gavric and promising sophomore wide receiver Brick Williams. Senior Rhett VanBoening (Army) and junior Myles Batesky can play multiple positions on the offensive line and also help anchor the defensive line in front of senior linebacker Caleb Baczek (56 tackles).
9. Grant (6-4): The Bulldogs started 10 sophomores during their breakthrough season. Foremost in that class is Matthew Gipson (1,605 yards, 16 TDs), who emerged as one of the area’s best quarterbacks. Junior Tyler Zdon (1,001 yards, 10 TDs) will lead the running game, and junior Max Hembrey (360 yards, 5 TDs) headlines a productive receiving corps. Hembrey’s older brother Jack, a senior center, is one of four returning starters on the offensive line. The secondary is a defensive strength with senior safety Anthony Koza and senior cornerback Vinny Hurst.
10. Grayslake North (4-5): Inexperienced last season, the Knights see the flip side with 18 returning starters. Getting the ball into the hands of senior wide receiver Cameron Bates (578 yards, 2 TDs) is the top priority on offense. Senior quarterback Mitchell Hughes (1,090 yards, 6 TDs) and senior running back Landon Dovel (502 yards) also return. Senior linebacker Tyler McBride (72 tackles) is the defensive leader but will have plenty of help from senior defensive end Juan Marquez (5 sacks).
25 PLAYERS TO WATCH
- Cameron Bates, Grayslake North, senior, wide receiver
- Devaughn Brown, Waukegan, senior, wide receiver
- Alexander Bustamante, Antioch, senior, defensive end
- Braden Carlson, Grayslake Central, senior, quarterback
- Liam Carney, Wauconda, senior, lineman
- Martin Cohen, Antioch, senior, running back
- Frank Costabile, Stevenson, junior, running back
- Timotei Dan, Lake Forest, senior, linebacker
- Donovan Dey, Carmel, senior, running back
- Matthew Gipson, Grant, junior, quarterback
- Marlin Jeffries, North Chicago, junior, defensive back/wide receiver
- Jake Junia, Mundelein, senior, linebacker
- Tommy Lamberti, Carmel, senior, offensive lineman
- Blaise LaVista, Libertyville, junior, wide receiver
- Nate Margulis, Deerfield, senior, linebacker
- X’Zavion Montgomery, Warren, junior, athlete
- Zack Raffone, Lakes, senior, linebacker
- Jackson Rudolph, Wauconda, junior, running back/linebacker
- Quinn Schambow, Libertyville, senior, quarterback
- Quinn Shimanski, Deerfield, senior, running back
- Aaron Stewart, Warren, junior, running back
- Trae Taylor, Carmel, sophomore, quarterback
- D’Angelo Washington, Stevenson, junior, linebacker
- Jacob Wilk, Lake Zurich, senior, offensive lineman
- Tyler Zdon, Grant, junior, running back
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.
