CN100 Sports Football Preview: Week 1 - Palatine vs. Stevenson

LINCOLNSHIRE – Another season of IHSA football action kicks off on CN100 with a marquee nonconference matchup.

Palatine reached the Class 8A semifinals last year, finishing 10-3. The 2014 Class 8A champions from Stevenson went 7-4. This opening weekend game can be seen on CN100, The Comcast Network, at Noon and 4 on Saturday, Aug. 27. You can also watch it anytime in HD with Xfinity On Demand by clicking Get Local and CN100. X1 users, look for Get Local under the Xfinity Services tab.

Both teams enter 2016 after unbeaten state champion Loyola Academy bounced them from the playoffs last fall.

Palatine gave the Ramblers their biggest scare of the season, falling 24-22 in the state semifinals before the Ramblers blanked Marist 41-0 for the state title.

The Pirates have their own high hopes of reaching the state title game this year, led by returning quarterback Zach Oles, who threw for 2,273 yards and 18 touchdowns last year while rushing for 1,307 yards and 20 touchdowns.

His top returning targets are Johnny O’Shea (640 receiving yards, six touchdowns) and Courtland Cornelius (250 receiving yards, one touchdown). In the backfield, Josh Turner supports Oles. He rushed for 540 yards and seven touchdowns last year and racked up 245 receiving yards and two more scores.

Defensively, Dylan Tapia and Mackenzie Balaganayi return to lead the way for the Pirates. Tapia racked up 85 tackles and five interceptions last year. Balaganayi posted 74 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and nine sacks.

Stevenson lost many key contributors the past two years to graduation, but the reloaded Patriots are ready to get back to the state title game. Senior quarterback Aiden O’Connell triggers the attack. He appeared in five games last year, including the season-opening 26-24 win over Palatine. He went 22-for-34 for 253 yards, with four touchdowns and no interceptions. His cousin is Palatine linebacker Scott Elter.

“(O’Connell) beat us last year, he made big plays for them coming in after (Jack) Sorenson was injured,” Palatine coach Rick Splitt said. “We expect a strong passing attack and a complementary strong running game.”

O’Connell’s main targets will be the Marchese twins. Both 6-foot-3, 185-pound seniors, Henry and Michael Marchese are big threats. Henry Marchese was one of the top receivers in the state last year, grabbing 59 passes for 981 yards and nine touchdowns. Michael Marchese is a two-way threat for the Patriots. He caught 18 passes for 297 yards and a touchdown and made big contributions on defense as a starting safety.

“The twin brothers, they have height and speed that we will have to control and stop them from making big plays,” Splitt said.

Senior Anthony Sibo is the top returning rusher, finishing third on the team last year with 353 yards and five touchdowns on 42 carries, adding 11 catches for 116 yards. The rest of the offensive playmakers will be relatively new to varsity production.

Defensively, the Patriots have key contributors back at every level. On the line, Zach Pritt recorded 58 tackles, eight for loss and 3 ½ sacks. Linebackers Danny Mass (61 tackles) and Piotr Niedzwiedz (92 tackles, 52 solo, three interceptions) return. Michael Marchese anchors the secondary.

“Defensively, they are fast and physical and they have an odd front that will put pressure on us,” Splitt said.

- Paul Johnson, CN100 Correspondent

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