Highland Park football winning the numbers game — and hopes that translates to on-field victories

As Highland Park football looks toward a return to the postseason, at the very least the Giants will have strength in numbers.

Giants coach Anthony Kopp said the team’s 50-player roster is its largest in recent memory and much larger than recent varsity teams with their 30 or so participants.

The limited personnel is a major reason the Giants fielded so much talent on both sides of the ball. That changes for the better this season, Kopp said.

“We’re definitely excited about the numbers,” he said. “We’ll have several options at spots. We have good, competitive practices right now with not a lot of two-way starters.”

The strong numbers continue throughout the HPHS football program, which Kopp said has around 115 participants. With another 100 in the youth program, Kopp said more than 200 young people are playing organized football in the community, “which is awesome.”

The influx of football players began after the Giants program hit a low of approximately 50 players pre-pandemic. Kopp and his staff — he credited Ray Finfer and Ross Kaiser — promoted the game around town, including inside middle schools and through the park district, and a few years later, the sport’s local numbers have surged.

Kopp now has more decisions to make at each position — a good problem to have.

“It says a lot to our depth and kids putting in work,” he said. “It says a lot too about kids being hungry to compete and get on the field.”

More players are in black and blue this season, but they won’t all be new to Giants fans.

Star wide receiver and safety Lucas Gordon returns as one of the top players in the area. Gordon is coming off a 1,000-yard, 10-touchdown junior campaign and is ready for a grand finale, Kopp said.

“He’s bigger this year, stronger this year, faster too, but definitely put on some muscle this year,” Kopp said.

The standout surely will have the attention of opposing defenses, and Kopp sees that as an opportunity for Gordon’s offensive mates to step up.

Junior Gustav Crane is set at starting quarterback. Kopp said Crane set himself apart at the team’s camp at Illinois Wesleyan University, where Kopp, a former HPHS quarterback, played college football.

Crane’s legs will also be a weapon to complement a three-headed attack in the backfield. Returning starter Jayden Corchado will compete for carries with sophomore John Boman and junior Zion Wood, a standout on last season’s conference-winning sophomore Giants.

Two returning starters — Constantine Soutsos and Max Leon, both seniors — will lead the offensive line, while Owen Loftus and Peter Dimitriou, both juniors, will complement Gordon in the receiving corps.

On the other side of the ball, Kopp is looking forward to watching his linebackers, a senior-heavy group that features Gabe Leon inside and Marco Volpentesta and Sam Goldfeder outside.

Jacob Youra is a guy to look out for on the Giants defensive line, Kopp said, adding that Highland Park will give several players chances to contribute on the line.

Highland Park is a season removed from one of the most successful runs in program history. The Giants in 2023 won seven games, including one in the postseason, and scored 35 points per game.

Last year, a graduation-depleted Highland Park started slow before finding its footing and winning three straight games to close the season and take third in the Central Suburban North.

To this year’s Giants, though, history is history.

Kopp said his 2025 squad is ready to forge its own path, aiming first at a conference championship.

“It’s been a totally different vibe,” he said. “I think our players are confident and having fun with it (saying), ‘That was last year and this is a new locker room, a new team. There’s no reason to doubt us,’

“Everyone is excited to get started with Leyden and hopefully get started with that first (win).”

HIGHLAND PARK 2023 SCHEDULE (2024: 3-6)

* Playoff team
^ Conference opponent

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