Conference: CCL/ESCC White
Head coach: Pat Swanson
2024 record: 8-4 (Lost 26-14 to DePaul Prep in the Class 4A quarterfinals)
2025 outlook:
Pat Swanson, who most recently was an assistant at Mount Carmel and has college coaching experience, takes over a team projected to jump from Class 4A to 7A this season.
Gone are lead back Harley Rizzs, who planned to walk on in football and track at Arizona State, and quarterback Chase Kwiatkowski, now at Illinois State.
But the cupboard is hardly bare. Two key members of the Vikings’ Class 3A baseball state champs are back as football starters: senior running back/defensive back Cory Les (6-0, 200) and senior defensive back Mickey Lotus (5-11, 170). Les is a Louisville baseball commit.
Senior Jimmy McDermott (6-0, 170), a starting safety last year, is moving to quarterback.
Other returning starters are junior linebacker/tight end Sean Rice (6-3, 225), senior two-way linemen Brian Killen (6-0, 245) and Jahlen Williams (6-3, 250), junior offensive lineman Edgar Villanueva (6-1, 260) and senior defensive back Mikhail Riley (5-9, 165).
Also back with experience are five seniors: receiver/defensive backs Danny Hyland (6-3, 180), Kam McHugh (6-0, 170) and Matt Williams (5-10, 165) along with defensive lineman/tight end Max Siwinski (6-1, 220) and linebacker Ethan Glover (6-0, 190).
Some promising newcomers include sophomore quarterback/athlete Noah Taylor (6-0, 180), sophomore offensive lineman Ryan Cronin (6-0, 275), junior defensive back Evan Malone (5-11, 170), junior linebacker/defensive lineman David Campbell (6-3, 230) and junior linebacker/defensive back Anthony Cruz (5-11, 195).
Schedule
Aug. 29 King, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 5 Evanston, 7:30 p.m.
Sept 12 Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 19 Carmel, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 27 at Leo, 5 p.m.
Oct. 3 at Fenwick, 7:30 p/m.
Oct. 10 St. Patrick, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 17 at Brother Rice, 7 p.m.
Oct. 24 Montini, 7:30 p.m.