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North Suburban Lake Football: What’s hot to watch this season

By TribLocal Community Member Aug. 26, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.

Rolling Meadows #81 ony Taibi (cq) is brought down by Lake Zurich players #6, JJ Raffelson (cq) , #26 Brian Poulter (cq) and #2 Robby Wilson (cq) during the second quarter of their playoff game at Rolling Meadows high school in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, on Saturday, October 31, 2009. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune) ..OUTSIDE TRIBUNE CO.- NO MAGS, NO SALES, NO INTERNET, NO TV, CHICAGO OUT.. 00312540A 01-PREP-1FOOT-LAKE-ZURICH-ROLLIN (football playoffs) Chicago Tribune

North Suburban Lake

Last year’s champ: Stevenson (10-1, 6-0).

Favorite: Lake Zurich.

Dark horse: Warren.

Rest of the pack: Lake Forest, Libertyville, Mundelein.

Big games: Warren at Stevenson, 7:30 Sept. 10; Stevenson at Lake Zurich, 7:30 Oct. 1; Lake Zurich at Warren, 7:30 Oct. 8; Stevenson at Libertyville, 7:30 Oct. 15.

Big names: Jacob Brinlee, Lake Zurich, Sr., RB; Bo Dever, Lake Forest, Jr., WR; Kevin Earl, Stevenson, Sr., QB; Tom Lindal, Warren, Sr., RB; JJ Raffelson, Lake Zurich, Sr., LB.

Others to watch: Mike Crowley, Stevenson, Sr., OL/DL; John DeVito, Mundelein, Sr., RB/LB; ; Brian Grant, Mundelein, Sr., WR; T.J. Jackson, Lake Forest, Sr., RB; Matt Jacobson, Libertyville, Sr., LB; Ben Kenney, Warren, Jr., QB; Zak Lowe, Warren, Sr., DL; AJ Schurr, Libertyville, Sr., QB; Brady Schmidt, Libertyville, Sr., OL; Maxx Wujcik, Stevenson, Sr., DL.

FYI: Lake Zurich has reached three of the last four 7A semifinals, winning the championship in 2007 and runner-up in 2006.

He said it: “This team has a bitter taste in their mouth from the way our season ended last year. They use that as motivation.” – Lake Zurich coach Bryan Stortz. The Bears lost 21-17 to Glenbard West in a 7A semifinal on a touchdown with 6 seconds left.

- Kyle Betts