West ready for battle in the trenches

Playing the game may be as easy as 1-2-3. Winning consistently is much more challenging.

Buck Drach knows that all too well as he prepares his fourth West High team for the coming season. His .705 winning percentage in a 16-year stint at St. Charles included 12 playoff appearances, so Drach knows what it takes.

More often than not, football wars are won by claiming the battles in the trenches. Line play is key and that's where the Blackhawks have been lacking during Drach's 9-18 tenure.

This year he's cautiously optimistic, especially on the offensive side of the ball where he returns four starters from a year ago.

"Some of these schools with big numbers (in the DuPage Valley Conference), there's not much dropoff when you go to their 2s and 3s," he said of the backups. "That's been the big difference between us and them. A lot of our 1s could play for other people in our conference."

That's especially true this year with his line that is anchored by a pair of 6-foot-5-inch giants at tackle in seniors Michael Kim and Matt Gorges.

"Last year we didn't have as much speed (on the line) and I think this group has trained harder," said Kim, a 310-pound right tackle who has improved his strength and can nearly bench press his own weight.

"You can't make 'em that big," Drach said of Kim.

Gorges, a 265-pounder on the left side, will be starting on the varsity for the third season.

"I think we're a lot further ahead of where we were last year thanks to the work we did in summer camp," said Gorges, who joined Kim in making trips to college camps at Western Michigan and Michigan State as well as touring the facilities at Northern Illinois.

"We didn't have to worry about anybody not showing up (for summer sessions). The main group, especially, showed up early and worked well as a group. I think we've got good chemistry."

Returning with them are guard Marcos Hernandez, a 6-1, 260-pound senior, and tight end David Hulett, a 6-1, 205-pound senior who moved from tackle last season.

"We had a shortage on tight ends so he came from third string tackle to tight end," Gorges said. He's not too big of a guy but is a good blocker."

And even though he had only two receptions last season, Gorges said, "(Hulett) has got some good hands. He'll be a good weapon for us this year."

Senior Zach DuSell (6-2, 275) will start at center and junior Cal Wagner (6-2, 210), who Gorges describes as "a quick learner," will man the other guard spot.

The senior trio of Devin Compton (6-1, 220), Fetim Azemi (6-1, 250) and Matt Lynn (6-4, 200) head the defensive line, which is also likely to feature Gorges pulling some double duty.

"The last two years, we could play with anybody for three quarters," said Drach. "But it gets back to those lines. We'd get knicked up and it would hurt us."

Staying healthy, then, will be a big key. At least until the depth is built up.

"We try our best to recruit people to come out, and we've got more this year," Gorges said. "We've just got to keep working at it. I think this season is going to be blast. I'm waiting to see the reaction (of his teammates) when they realize how good we can be."