Line play will be a key strength for the Addison Trail football team.
By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
Longtime Addison Trail football coach Paul Parpet Jr., has a luxury this season that most coaches rarely see.
Parpet returns his entire offensive line from a Blazers team that is coming off a 4-5 campaign in 2016.
“It’s the first time in the 23 years I’ve been at AT that this has happened,” said Parpet.
Back on the offensive line are seniors Michael Renc (center), Randy Petrbok (tackle), Chris Lasanta (guard) and juniors JT Daniels (guard) and Jake Zaborowski (tackle).
“It’s huge to have that,” said Parpet. “You could tell the difference all summer. Even when we started camp (last Monday), you could see that experience. It’s a great advantage to have when all five offensive linemen are back. High-school football is about up front and how good your linemen are. This is a feather in our cap.”
Renc and Petrbok are in their third years as starters on the varsity.
“You can’t stress how important it is to have that experience,” said Parpet. “You need that experience up there and we have it.”
Those five will block for featured running back Nick Dambrose, who also returns after a strong junior year.
“Early in the year we will count on our offensive line and Nick to carry the load a little bit,” said Parpet.
Addison Trail will start junior Nick Daudelin at quarterback. “We’ll count on those guys early to ease the transition a little bit for Nick,” said Parpet. “He’s making the transition to varsity football. He’s a good athlete who can throw the football down the field. He reminds me of (Mike) Gontarek when we brought him up as a sophomore to play quarterback. It will take Nick a little time. It’s a lot different going from sophomore to varsity with the speed of the game. He will have to get accustomed to it early. We play Glenbard South first and they are not easy and it’s the same thing with York the next week and then we play Glenbard West in the third week. He’s going to get anointed early. Hopefully our offensive line and Nick Dambrose will carry the load until he gets acclimated to varsity football.”
On the other side of the ball, Addison Trail also is in good shape up front with the return of down lineman Jack Domek, as well as Juan Bracamontes and Ryan Sheehan.
Also back on defense is three-year starter Nick DiBenardo (inside linebacker), along with cornerback Chris Cici. Lasanta also will see time on defense either at inside linebacker or at a down lineman position.
“Chris is another guy back on defense. He started the last four games both ways for us last year,” Parpet pointed out.
Parpet noted the keys for his team to have success this fall center on both sides of the ball. “We have to control the football and allow for our defense to adapt to the speed of the varsity game,” he said. “I think we have a lot of puzzle pieces that are in place. Now, we need to become accustomed to varsity action. That’s what we have to figure out. The junior class is very talented and the senior class is very talented and has experience. It comes down to the guys up front. Two guys are starting their third year and three guys are in their second year. The key is to allow time for the younger guys to get used to varsity football. We’re very excited. We think we can be very competitive and we think we have an opportunity to be one of the frontrunners for a conference title and that’s only because of the experience we have coming back with guys in spots that need to be in those spots in order for us to be successful.”
Addison Trail will be without returning key contributor Mike Ruffolo, who Parpet said should return from injury in the third or fourth week of the season.
“He will be a major part of our team when he comes back,” said Parpet. “He’s important to have. We used him as a wide receiver and in the secondary last year. He’s a major asset to the team.”
Addison Trail also added Jacob Grygo to the program. Grygo used to play goalie in the boys’ soccer program.
“He’s 6-5 and has those goalie skills where he can go up and get a football,” said Parpet. “He’s been a great addition to the team.”
As Parpet mentioned earlier, the Blazers open the season with games against Glenbard South, York and their annual West Suburban Conference crossover meeting with Glenbard West.
“On paper, we could be very competitive,” said Parpet. “Numbers will be an issue and staying healthy. We have to stay healthy for nine weeks. There is a lot of potential with the guys slated to play the 11 positions on offense and a lot of potential with the first 11 playing defense and then you mix and match on special teams and you have a lot of potential. It’s a fun bunch of kids. They work hard and they want to be successful. I think we will be successful because of the work we have put in. We have experienced, veteran players and we hope that transitions into our younger guys who we are counting on to be major parts of what we do. We’re optimistic and we’re excited about this season. Now, it’s a matter of strapping it up and getting out there.”
