Huskies eye another big finish

Naperville North running back Nick Mlady
(Stacia Timonere/For the Sun-Times)

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Naperville North's number of returning starters is small. Ditto for the Huskies' line.

But the defending Class 8A state champs have not downsized their dreams this year.

"I think we'll be a slow-starting team," coach Larry McKeon said. "But I think we'll get better as the year goes along. ... There's great athletes over there -- it's just a matter of getting them in game situations."

The Huskies graduated 18 of 22 starters, including such offensive mainstays as quarterback Jordan Tassio (1,450 passing yards, 18 touchdowns), the Sun-Times Player of the Year; running back Tom Constantino (1,135 all-purpose yards, 13 TDs); fullback Tyrone Saunders (12 TDs) and receiver Alex Dieckmann (612 yards, nine TDs).

But North returns two starting offensive linemen -- Alex Helms (6-1, 215 pounds) and James Fissinger (6-0, 200) -- along with a healthy Jake Baratz (6-5, 275). Ben Green (6-0, 225) also has shown promise.

"He was injured for about four games last year (and) maybe didn't develop as quickly as we hoped he would," McKeon said of Baratz, who has committed to Arizona. "We think he has a real upside."

Senior two-way lineman Tim Weidenbacher (6-0, 230) feels the same way about the entire offense.

"We kind of take pride in our speed and quickness and strength," Weidenbacher said. "I feel like our team -- it's going to hard for us not to put up points."

Offense was definitely not an issue for the 2007 Huskies, who averaged just under 37 points a game and beat Glenbard North 46-19 to win the school's second state title.

To approach that level of productivity again, the Huskies will need another big year from running back Nick Mlady (1,274 yards, 11 TDs), who has a scholarship offer from Navy.

"He has great hands," McKeon said. "Great receiver, outstanding blocker."

Two more skill players to keep an eye on are quarterback Matt Manade, Tassio's backup last season, and running back Patrick Waite, who rushed for 39 yards in the state final after Mlady suffered a broken leg.

"Playing behind Jordan Tassio, you don't get much of an opportunity," McKeon said of Manade. "(But) he would have started for about 80 percent of the teams we played."

The situation is a bit more uncertain on the other side of the ball.

"I think right now our question marks come on defense," McKeon said. "We're going to play a lot of young kids."

Some of the key players on that unit include Weidenbacher, an end and the only returning defensive starter; Helms, a linebacker who is another projected two-way starter; safeties Dan Sagen and Pat Bassett; and speedy tackle Lonnie Bracey.

"We just hope we don't wear him out," McKeon said of Helms.

NAPERVILLE NORTH BY THE NUMBERS

Conference: DuPage Valley

Coach: Larry McKeon 26th Season (216-66)

2007 Record: 13-1 (6-1) Class 8A Champions

2007 Final Rank: 1

2008 Schedule

August

29 Neuqua Valley

September

5 @ Oswego East

12 Glenbard East

19 @ West Chicago

26 Glenbard North

October

3 @ Naperville Central

10 West Aurora

17 @ Wheaton North

24 WW South

Key Game: September 24 vs. WW South: The Tigers handed the Class 8A champs their only loss last season, a triple-overtime thriller that gave WW South the DVC crown. This time WW South will travel to Naperville for the final game of the regular season. Back-to-back games against Glenbard North and Naperville Central will also be tough.

Phil Barnes