Morris follows fine line

Updated: September 6, 2011 7:42PM

With 2010 playoff teams Minooka and Richards on the schedule, the start of the season figured to be an accurate measuring stick for Morris.

Turns out the Redskins are measuring up just fine.

“It’s exactly where we wanted to be,’’ Morris coach Alan Thorson said after Friday’s victory over Richards in Oak Lawn. “We’re 2-0 for the first time since 2005.’’

That’s right, 2005, the year Morris won the Class 6A state title with powerful John Dergo running behind a huge offensive front. The 2011 offensive line remains a work in progress, but Thorson definitely was encouraged by its performance against Richards.

“That was a big confidence boost for our offensive line,’’ Thorson said. “I think they’re going to take us very far this year. We needed a game where we could prove that.’’

Led by all-Northern Illinois Big 12 tackle Jimmy Pelnarsh, the offensive line includes Preston Miracle, Addison Shannon, Craig Claire, Jacob Thuente and Colton Buhle-Rutz.

“Our kids kind of took this week personally because we took a lot of heat for not being able to run the ball last week,’’ Thorson said of the 27-21 Week 1 victory over Minooka.

“We heard it from a lot of people — a lot of people doubted our running game. Within this group we never doubted it. We showed we’re not one-dimensional.’’

Running backs Jake Ruettiger and Collin Grogan led the ground game against Richards with two touchdowns each, while Greg Struck and Jeff Perry also chipped in during the 28-16 victory.

One week at a time

Preseason favorites Homewood-Flossmoor and Lincoln-Way East are in the middle of Bolingbrook’s SouthWest Suburban Blue schedule, but keeping his team focused early on shouldn’t be an issue for Raiders coach John Ivlow.

“This team, they listen,’’ Ivlow said during a recent practice. “They don’t jack around a lot. You look around — there’s nobody standing around, there’s nobody talking.

“These guys here, their coach hasn’t gotten here yet. They’re over there doing their drills. Nobody is telling them to do it. They’re not jacking around.’’

Bolingbrook hosts Joliet Central Friday and Joliet West on Sept. 16 before back-to-back games against H-F and Lincoln-Way East.

QB comparison incomplete

Quarterback Anthony Kropp directed Lincoln-Way East to an undefeated state championship season in 2005 before moving on to St. Xavier.

Blake Winkler passed for almost 1,800 yards and 20 TDs as a junior last season for the Griffins. Guess what’s happening now?

“A lot of comparisons between a young man like Anthony Kropp and Blake Winkler,’’ East coach Rob Zvonar said. “We remind Blake that Anthony Kropp has a championship ring on his finger. So if he wants to be called the best we’ve ever had. ... Blake understands what we’re trying to do.’’

It’s no surprise to Zvonar that Ivy League schools Princeton, Yale and Harvard are recruiting his quarterback. “It’s obviously a coaches cliche, but it really is like having a coach on the field,’’ Zvonar said of Winkler.

One more thing

Lincoln-Way East linebacker Kyle Langenderfer is a returning starter on defense, but the 5-foot-8, 150-pound junior can do more than take a ballcarrier down. Langenderfer wrestled his way to second
place at 135 pounds in the Class 3A individual state tournament last season.

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