Local gridiron gangs put in their summer work

High school football begins next month, and preparation is underway.

More than 20 suburban football teams — including New Trier and Highland Park — put that preparation on display Wednesday, July 9, at Maine West High School during the Central Suburban League 7-on-7 tournament.

The teams played four games apiece against unique opponents. The Trevians competed against Taft, Grant, Maine East and Bulls Prep.

New Trier coach Brian Doll said the different competition, and competition in general, is an important part of the summer work.

“We get to see a lot of different coverages, a lot of different defenses … see where all the blitzes are coming from, whether they play man or zone,” he said. “And the other thing is everybody likes competing, so you want to be out here seeing different people and not seeing the same guys you see in practice every day.”

Another major summer plotline for the Trevians is the commingling of varsity newcomers and holdovers — both of which are strong groups, Doll said.

New Trier returns several starters on the offensive and defensive lines, so Doll and his staff have been able to focus on developing the younger skill positions.

“That’s been the learning curve for us this summer,” he said, “making sure those skill guys — who are a lot of our juniors and we have three sophomores up right now — are really catching up.”

New Trier is also working on breaking in a new quarterback following the graduation of three-year starter Patrick Heneghan.

Doll said while multiple players are getting a shot at the position, 6-foot-5 junior Jackie Ryder has separated himself and is working with the first team offense. He’s received a boost from two new assistant coaches that used to quarterback the Trevians: Matt McCaffrey and Dusty Napoleon, who is also school’s head baseball coach.

“Jackie Ryder really has come along a far way this summer,” he said. “I’m really happy with the progression he’s had. … Jackie has a great relationship with Dusty and is working well with him.

“The arm is big. It’s a really big arm to work with. He sees over the pocket being 6-5 and the progression of him learning the game has been faster than I anticipated. And I’m really happy with the way kids are responding to me.”

The Giants of Highland Park are doing some mixing of their own.

Similar to the Trevians, the Giants are bringing in a strong junior class, one that went 8-1 with a league title at the sophomore level a year ago, said coach Anthony Kopp.

“We have a strong junior class coming up, so it’s really about meshing those previous juniors now seniors with those coming up, so building off their strong year and getting them to mesh, learn each other and bond,” he said.

Highland Park two-way star Lucas Gordon, now a senior, has again stood out to Kopp this offseason. As a junior, Gordon compiled more than 1,000 receiving yards with 10 touchdowns and also led the Giants in tackles as a defensive back.

Kopp said Gordon is “looking stronger than ever, better than ever.”

Two juniors — Gustav Crane and Sam Gaddini — are competing for the starting quarterback spot for Highland Park, and Kopp praised both of their offseasons.

The Giants are coming off a 3-6 season in 2024 after they had a monumental 2023 campaign that resulted in eight wins, including a playoff victory.

Kopp and company are pushing the Giants this summer to be ready for the start of 2025.

“We’ve definitely challenged them,” he said, “and I think they’re doing a great job of stepping up and really embracing that we have to be in our best physical shape and the strongest we’ve ever been — buying into that. We have to do everything we can to be physically ready.”

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