Fremd forecast: Big plays, big season

Mike Tauchman will be a key player for Fremd this season.
(Joe Shuman/For the Pioneer Press)

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The numbers don't lie: Fremd's football team is very competitive every year.

"Our kids are going to be well-prepared and in shape," Fremd coach Mike Donatucci said. "They've proven to be tough physically and mentally over the years, and our kids have consistently found a way to win."

Under Donatucci, the Vikings have made the playoffs 13 years in a row, including two undefeated regular seasons (2005, 2007), five consecutive Mid-Suburban West titles and double-digit-win seasons the last three years.

So what's the next step for Fremd, which opens at reigning Class 7A champion Lake Zurich on Aug. 29?

"Anything below a state championship is a disappointment to us," receiver Andrew Corso said. ''We basically think we have a 14-game season to play."

Corso is one of six returning starters on offense. Linemen James Norris (6-2, 260 pounds) and Christian Lombard (6-6, 290) are back. With scholarship offers from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Notre Dame, Lombard is one of the top prospects in the Class of 2010.

Tight end Jeff Bobek, receiver Mike Tauchman and running back Mike Gyetvay also return. Gyetvay rushed for more than 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns during the regular season as a junior last season.

"We are going to have a lot of game-breakers on offense," Gyetvay said. "We are really, really balanced. Other teams’ defenses should watch out for a lot of things from Fremd offensively this year."

Tauchman, who is a potential replacement for graduated quarterback Mark Tolzien, called Fremd’s multi-dimensional attack "explosive."

"We are faster and our big play capabilities are bigger than in years past," Tauchman said. "We will be a very explosive team this year and we will put a lot of points on the board."

Linebackers Jonathon Diegel and Ben Perna, who played defensive end last season, will head a relatively inexperienced but talented Fremd defense. Also look out for receiver/defensive back Chris Doloughty.

"We lost a lot of guys … but we will be flying around and our intensity will still be up," Diegel said. "We've been energized the entire offseason. Everyone is excited for the season to start. We got good team chemistry going."

Added Perna: "We have the same toughness and we'll still get the job done. … We have just as much talent as the years before and we have the potential to go far."

ajahns@chicagosuntimes.com 

FREMD BY THE NUMBERS

Conference: Mid-Suburban West

Coach: Mike Donatucci, 16th Season (108-49)

2007 Record: 11-1 (5-0) Class 8A quarterfinals

2007 Final Rank: 12

2008 Schedule

August

29 @ Lake Zurich

September

5 @ Hersey

12 Wheeling

19 @ Rolling Meadows

26 @ Schaumburg

October

3 Conant

10 @ Palatine

17 Barrington

24 Hoffman Estates

Key Game: October 17 vs. Barrington: The MSL-West title may come down to Barrington and the Vikings. The Broncos are led by Division-I recruits in linebacker Alex Smith and running back Sam Ojuri. Sparked by quarterback Mark Tolzien, who is now at Holy Cross, Fremd won last year 35-14.

Phil Barnes