After a long offseason dominated by lifts and conditioning, grueling workouts in the summer heat, and the team’s annual trip to U-W Parkside, the Scouts are shaping up for the 2022 season, building team chemistry with this young team both on and off the field.

“For me, I feel like some of the best memories could just be going out with the whole team to get food after practices,” senior Sheppard Graf said.

Scout seniors Graf and Robert Pasinato expressed two common themes for this year’s team: youthfulness and team chemistry. In the past, the team has been dominated by upperclassmen, with talented sophomores sprinkled in every now and then; however, with a smaller senior class this year, only 12 seniors, the Scouts seemed to be at a disadvantage, but with more young players this year, the veteran Scouts have a unique opportunity to show themselves as leaders and really be able to shape the team for how they want the season to go this year.

“We have a lot of sophomores up with us but I feel that the seniors have done a good job setting examples,” Graf said.

Varsity football has finally reached its long anticipated season opener. The Scouts are set to square off against the Saint Francis Spartans, a team they faced (and beat) on the road last year.

About Saint Francis: Last year, the Spartans were led by senior quarterback Carson Vandello who led the team to a strong 8-3 record, with losses to Lake Forest, Bishop Nackamara, and a second round exit to the playoffs against Genoa Kingston High. This year, the Spartans will pivot to rising junior quarterback, Alessio Milivojevic, who will rely on the passing game with sophomore Ian Willis, who put up an impressive 8 catches for 119 yards against Lake Forest last year.

About Lake Forest: Last year, senior quarterback and Notre Dame football commit Leo Scheidler led the Scouts to an impressive 9-3 record, with losses to Warren, Carmel Catholic, and then after an impressive playoff run, falling to eventual 6A State Champions Cary-Grove in the semi-final game. This year, the Scouts will have another senior as the primary signal caller, in Robert Pasinato, who will look for senior weapons Graf and senior running back Harry Kotlarz to help the Scouts with their offensive attack.

“Youth, family, and playmakers” are the words he used to describe what should be an exciting season of Scouts football.