Quarterback question causes no worries

Updated: August 4, 2011 12:20PM

Bob Pieper’s been through this before.

That’s why the Glenbrook North football coach isn’t worried about naming a starting quarterback going into preseason practices Aug. 10.

After two seasons with Zack Hilgendorf under center, the Spartans will have new starter, and Pieper counts plenty of players in the mix. Matt Hoyer, Curt Petty, Cody Bolan and T.J. Tedeschi all are being considered for the job.

“That’s our biggest question still,” Pieper said. “We’ve rotated all four kids this summer, and all of them have gotten a lot of reps. We knew we weren’t going to make a decision this summer, but we wanted to get them all work.”

Whomever earns the position will have big shoes to fill after Hilgendorf led the Spartans to a CSL North championship and a second consecutive playoff appearance last year. Glenbrook North went undefeated in league play for the second time since 2007 and finished 8-2 overall. It was the program’s best season since 2004, when Pieper coached the Spartans to 11-1.

“There’s momentum from last year,” Pieper said. “The great thing about winning conference is that you are now the hunted instead of the hunter. It’s ours to defend now, and we will practice that way and play that way.”

While none of the four quarterback hopefuls owns varsity starts, each can make arguments as to why he is best suited for the responsibility. Even better, all four play other positions, so Pieper won’t have to worry about what to do with the ones who won’t play quarterback.

Tedeschi is the only one of the four who started at quarterback last season when he was the sophomore team’s signal-caller. Hoyer served as Hilgendorf’s backup, while Bolan was Tedeschi’s understudy. Petty, who started for two years on the underlevels, played in the secondary last year on varsity.

“All four of those kids are good athletes and will be able to help us out somewhere else,” the coach said. “That’s something we like.”

Although the captain of the offense is undetermined, the Spartans are thankful for the veterans they have back. The left side of the line returns Mike Ermel and Paul Boidanis. Ermel, who is getting looks from colleges, will be a three-year starter on the offensive line. Pieper is unsure whether George McCurdy, another big body, will return to the trenches as a senior.

Another key ingredient is Grant Rushing. As a sophomore, he ran for more than 1,000 yards and was named the conference’s offensive player of the year.

“He had a great, great year for us,” said Pieper, who reported that Rushing put on 20 pounds and now carries 205 pounds on his 6-foot-1 frame. “We certainly will be giving Grant the ball, and whoever is at quarterback also can use his legs as a weapon.”

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