Cream of the crop

The 2008 state playoffs were the worst in memory for the DuPage Vallley Conference, which was finished with football early.

But the powerhouse league from the western suburbs figures to be back as strong as ever this fall.

With a lot of experienced linemen — and a ridiculously tough schedule — Wheaton Warrenville South will start the season as the No. 1 team in the area. The schedule is a killer, starting with Class 8A runner-up Hinsdale Central in Week 1 and 8A champion Maine South in Week 2 before heading into the always tough DVC. Last season, the Tigers opened with a 28-27 victory against Hinsdale Central.

‘‘This class has been successful,’’ Tigers coach Ron Muhitch said. ‘‘We return a lot on the offensive line, and there are people back at the skill positions. We have a bigtime kicker in Nick Immekus and return Shane Dierking and Matt Ives on defense.

‘‘We’ve got a chance to do something that has not been done for our program, and that is to play against the best with a good bunch of kids.’’

Muhitch predicts that Immekus, who also started at center last season, will land a big-time scholarship. No kick was bigger than his 45-yard field goal that defeated Glenbard North.

Here’s a look at the preseason Super 25:

1. Wheaton Warrenville South: Returning starters on offense include WRs Greg McAndrew, Kyle Snow and Dan Hohenstein, QB/WR Mack Tracey and OL Chris Cortopassi, Rocco Ammons and Immekus — all back from a team that started 8-0 but lost 7-6 in a driving rain to Naperville North and was upset in the first round of the state playoffs by Downers Grove North 8-7.

2. Maine South: The reigning Class 8A state champions suffered some big graduation losses, including Sun-Times Player of the Year Charlie Goro. But with Tyler Benz moving to QB, there are plenty of reasons for optimism in Park Ridge. Indiana-bound Matt Perez returns at RB/OLB and will return kicks. Nephews of former New Trier coach Chick Cichowski, Alex Cichowski (6-3, 225) and Mike Cichowski (6-2, 215), anchor the offensive line. On defense, LB Benz and SS Ronnie Muck return, as does long snapper Adam Muller. Watch for OT Victor Nelson (6-7, 305) and senior WR Alex Romano.

3. Hinsdale Central: The Red Devils return eight starters on offense, including QB John Whitelaw and WR Alex Kirk, and four on defense, including LB Jason Rafferty, from the Class 8A runner-up last year. Others back for coach Mike DiMatteo are WRs Chris Kiser and Dave Banasiak, OL Jim Kallas, Jack Allen and Evan MacEyal, junior RB Jake Knowles, DL Will Monat and Mike Tenerelli and DB Mike Rogers.

4. Mount Carmel: The Caravan returns solid players on both sides, including OL Mike Husar, DL Nathan Ollie, RB Milton Greer, LB Chris Barcelona and WR/DB Jack Sherlock. The biggest key will be the play of junior QB Chris Sujka, a 5-10, 178-pounder who was Jordan Lynch’s backup last season, and coach Frank Lenti likes what he has seen so far from Sujka.

5. Bolingbrook: The biggest task for coach John Ivlow, a former Bear, will be replacing the offensive line in front of returning QB Brad Geever and RB Jamel Martin. The defense will be as good as any, led by LBs Mike Hellams and Marcus Lee and a strong defensive line anchored by Jeremy Curry. Watch for sophomore Robert Bain (6-3, 255), whose brother Ryan was an All-Area linebacker, to emerge as an offensive lineman for the Raiders.

6. St. Rita: With only three home games, the Mustangs will be road warriors. There’s no lack of talent for the reigning Catholic League Blue champions, who are led by DT Bruce Gaston (6-2, 290), LBs Ron McNamara and Joe Campagna, WR Kyle Jachim and RB/wrestling star Jahwon Akui. Returning linemen Tim Ladd and Jake O’Dea will open holes. Senior Rob Gallik has the inside track at quarterback.

7. Naperville North: The reigning DuPage Valley champions have all three linebackers — Jack Krejci, Arnas Gintautas and Nick Lifka — back, along with DL Blex Vixama, OL Dan Easley and WR James O’Shaughnessy. Matt LaCosse, a 6-6, 210-pound junior, takes over at QB after starting two games last year when starter Matt Manade was injured. The Huskies ended a great season in 2008 with some unfinished business after a 28-25 overtime loss to Marist. There also is speculation that veteran coach Larry McKeon might retire after the season.

8. Glenbard West: One question is whether senior QB Tyler Warden will have a breakout season. With returning OL Mike Sandoz and Division I prospect Jordan Walsh, six capable RBs and targets such as J.T. Mesch and Will Caspers, there are plenty of options. On defense, Connor Loftus, a 6-2, 220-pound MLB, is the key. DBs Jack Marston and Cody Olsen and NT Andy Allen also return. Junior safety Mike Lanning is a newcomer to watch.

9. Joliet Catholic: The key for coach Dan Sharp’s Hilltoppers early will be a defense led by LBs Jake Stockman, Zach Dolph and Andy Roth, along with end Mike Madrigal. Dan Foreman (6-4, 270) anchors the offensive line. Junior Josh Ferguson and sophomore Malin Jones are the front-runners at the halfback spots, with senior Jordan Lyles moving into the starting fullback role. Competing at quarterback are sophomore Anthony Maddie and senior Mark Krok.

10. Prospect: After winning three state titles since 2001, the Knights should challenge again with QB Miles Osei, who last year completed 145 of 225 passes for 2,328 yards and 22 touchdowns and ran for 1,237 yards and 18 touchdowns. Also back for the Knights are OL Matt Huenne and Victor Rhee and WRs Johnny Coen and Sean Baltowski. Peter Bonahoom and Steve Dazzo add depth at receiver. Huenne, a 6-5, 240-pounder, is back after missing last season with a knee injury.

11. Providence: Coach Mark Coglianese returns 11 starters, including lineman Steve Laski, WR/DB Peter Houlihan (63 tackles, six interceptions) and RB Tim Hanrahan (1,923 yards, 17 TDs), all of whom earned postseason honors last year. The schedule is unbelievable. All nine opponents were 2008 playoff teams, starting with Lincoln-Way East, Joliet Catholic, Loyola and Brother Rice the first four weeks. QB Mike Hoffmeister is back after throwing for 1,169 yards and nine touchdowns last season. WR Joe Sawicki and TE Steve Arthurs also return.

12. Fremd: The Vikings, who have won the Mid-Suburban West six years in a row and have been to the playoffs the last 14, return one of the state’s top linemen in 6-6, 290-pound Notre Dame recruit Christian Lombard. Fremd’s offense should roll with RB Evan Wright and a veteran line anchored by juniors Jack Knopka, Ryan Bobek and Lombard.

13. Carmel: Eric Stevenson will run behind a talented offensive line that includes Mickey Baucus, David Steele and TE Jack Hartnett. The defense returns tackle Steven Lester and backs Luke Venegoni, Matt Tripicchio and Patrick Cox in the tough East Suburban Catholic, where the Corsairs should be in the hunt with Joliet Catholic and Nazareth.

14. Lincoln-Way East: Senior WR Alex Evans is back, along with senior RB Justin Wittl and junior OL Joe Mizera. On defense, East features returning starters in senior DL Ryne Diehl and senior LBs Jim Lungaro and Ryan Hickey.

15. Downers Grove South: The Mustangs should roll in the West Suburban Gold behind Illinoisbound QB Chandler Whitmer. Veteran coach John Belskis’ team opens with Bolingbrook, and that figures to be the biggest test before the Class 8A playoffs. This could be a chance for the Mustangs to make their best playoff run since 2001.

16. Warren: The Blue Devils rate a slight edge over Stevenson, Libertyville and Lake Zurich in the North Suburban Lake. Coach Dave Mohapp returns Tom Dindal, a junior who ran for 1,300 yards last season. Two-way back Mike Liao and linemen Trevor Erbach and James Freeck also are back from a 9-2 team that ran the conference table in 2008.

17. Brother Rice: Coach Steve Nye’s Crusaders will be led by the OL trio of Andy Gallik (6-3, 300), who committed to Illinois, Kevin McKenna (6-2, 290) and Mike McGrail (6-2, 240). Paul Sullivan returns in the backfield. On defense, lineman Connor Yance and linebackers Steve McGinnis and Jake Michalek are back from a team that reached the 8A quarterfinals before losing to Hinsdale Central.

18. Naperville Central: In a conference loaded with land mines, the Redhawks will challenge Wheaton Warrenville South and Naperville North led by QB Nick Linne, who committed to Northwestern to play baseball and who also plays basketball. Last year, he threw for 1,711 yards and 13 touchdowns. On offense, TE Cam Brate, OL Nick Smentana, WR Brent Zelinski and FB Nate Delise are keys. The defense is led by lineman Alex Schaefer and DBs Paul Wirtz, Alex Grask and Jeremy Pomeroy. Watch LB Matt Soria.

19. Loyola: The word in Wilmette is that the Ramblers have a lot of potential but not a lot of experience. The biggest names are DL Chance Carter and TE Rob Wennington. Juniors to watch include DB James Bonner, RB Spencer Perry, OL Patrick Mulroe and WR/QB E.J. Webb. Also keep an eye on senior two-way back Anthony Fassett.

20. Lemont: The South Suburban Blue favorite returns RB Danny Hayes to lead the offense and six starters on defense, led by linemen Pat Driscoll and Angel Cabra and linebackers Alan Wielgus and Connor Nagel. Also returning are DBs Nick Forzley and James Tuscher. The offensive line is anchored by Jimmy Purvin.

21. Morris: The Redskins move to the NCIC Reagan Conference, and after opening the season at Oswego and hosting St. Rita, they play six of their last seven regular-season games against non-Chicago-area teams. In a battle between senior quarterbacks to see who will start, Martin Maldonado appears to have an edge over Jordan Bruyn. Senior TE/DE Kevin Henry (Central Michigan) is legit.

22. Nazareth: Coach Tim Racki’s Roadrunners are ready to make a run in the East Suburban Catholic with two-way backs and three-years starters LaSteven McKinney and Mike Williams. Quarterback Adam Marske also returns.

23. Cary-Grove: A 14-7 overtime loss to Crystal Lake South in the playoffs last year left the Trojans with some unfinished business. The offense will be strong, with RBs Alex Hembry and Eric Chandler and receiver/safety Chad McCarron returning behind a line anchored by Hayden Baker. A leader on defense will be back Chad McCarrow.

24. Crete-Monee: The Warriors return 16 starters, including 6-7, 295-pound DT Matt Finnin (Western Michigan). The favorite in the new Southland Conference also returns Greg Barksdale (55 tackles, three forced fumbles as a junior) and CB/WR Dylan McElveen. Others to watch include OL Brad Waiter and Cody Hock (6-2, 230) and WRs Lexus Jackson and AJ Pierce.

25. Montini: Coach Chris Andriano’s team plays a rugged nonconference slate, starting with Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin and then a road game at Weston Everest (Wis.) in Week 3. The addition of versatile RB/WR Nick Campanella, who came over when Driscoll closed, should be a big plus. The key could be 6-6 quarterback Brandon Pechloff, a left-hander who also is a pitcher and who made a lot of offseason noise. Another great option is WR Christian Westerkamp.