| HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PRACTICE BEGINS 8th straight state title drives Driscoll By Bob Sakamoto Tribune reporter August 12, 2008, 11:17 PM CDT Steve Schwabe often wakes up in the middle of the night and poses yet another question for his older brother Dave about the dynasty. "We sleep in the same room, and this thing keeps going through my mind," Steve Schwabe said of Driscoll's streak of seven consecutive state football championships. "It's finally here and I need to know what it takes to get there." Dave Schwabe, who is headed to the College of St. Francis to play baseball, was the game-breaking quarterback who teamed with Tim Franken in leading the Highlanders to the Class 4A title last year. Preseason football practices throughout the state begin Wednesday, leading up to Opening Night on Aug. 29. "[The] seniors thrive off the pressure to win again," said Steve Schwabe, the Highlanders' new quarterback. "I've been a part of two state championships, but this is our team. Nobody wants to be the ones to let it fall." Driscoll, which is 92-6 the last seven seasons with a 35-game playoff winning streak, returns nine starters from the 14-0 team that forced a running clock in nine games. Here's a sneak peek at the upcoming season. Top teams: Mt. Carmel, Wheaton Warrenville South, Glenbard North, St. Rita, Lincoln-Way East, Hinsdale Central, Glenbard West, Driscoll, Joliet Catholic, Nazareth, Maine South, Glenbrook South, Brother Rice, Fremd. Biggest surprise: That could be Leo. Never known as a football powerhouse, Leo has 18 returning starters from a 6-5 team, led by Illinois recruits Leon Hill (6-5, 320) and Lendell Buckner (6-3, 320) on the line, Western Michigan recruit Darwin Rogers at quarterback, Division I prospect Robert Morgan at running back and linemen Reggie White, Johnny Beckley and E.J. Jackson. Most intriguing games: Is Driscoll merely a small-school power? We'll find out in Week 2, when the Highlanders face 2007 Class 5A runner-up Morris. That same week, 6A champion Joliet Catholic challenges 7A runner-up Wheaton Warrenville South. bsakamoto@tribune.com Copyright © 2008, The Chicago Tribune |
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