Early home cooking greets talented Titans
By Joe Pritchett
Chatham Editor
Fans of the Glenwood Titans will not have to travel very far to follow their favorite team this season.
Well, at least until later in October anyway.
The Titans, coming off a solid 8-2 campaign in 2007, will play their first four games at home this
season, and five of their first six. Glenwood's first two road games of 2008 will be played at Memorial
Stadium in Springfield.
It's not until Week 8 when the Titans travel outside the county, when they take on Taylorville, before a
long journey west to Quincy for Week 9.
"It's ridiculous, but we've got it set up that way in the conference," stated Glenwood head coach Dan
Rourke, entering his 16th season. "We had four on the road to start last year. It's gonna change soon,
people are going to start rotating in. But either way, it is what it is."
In 2007, Glenwood lost two very close games, a 40-37 thriller to SHG and a first-round 30-27 defeat
to Bloomington in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs.
The Titans have a number of key performers returning, but the likes of QB David Kaufmann, LB/RB
Josh Atwood, TE/K Kyle Krager, WR Tony Uzzo, RB Tyler Trimberger and stalwart linemen like Ryan
Lee, Brad Holland, Josh Masten and Zach Whitley have graduated, leaving some big holes to fill.
"We had a great offseason," Rourke stated. "I think we got more work done this summer than we
ever have."
And as for his early outlook for the current season, Rourke added, "I think this team can be better
than we were last year, across the board. I think we're a faster team. Last year's team had a lot of
savvy, we're gonna have some youth out there. But if these young guys can pick it up and get to their
comfort zone where they can play full speed and think on the run, then we could be better than we were
last year."
The weather for the first week of practices was beyond unbelievable, with moderate temperatures,
but Rourke cautioned, "I'm just hoping that first ballgame we don't see 95 and humid, because we
haven't had that yet."
Senior Kyle Elmore (6-2, 182) has taken the reins at quarterback after a strong offseason of work,
and Rourke has been impressed with what he's seen so far.
"He's an extremely hard-working kid, and very intent on doing a good job," Rourke explained. "He's
improved quite a bit. He's had a good summer and he's ready to go."
Key returnees from a year ago include tackles Vince Israel (6-6, 270) and Vince Sabattini (6-3, 235),
the "twin towers", along with center Mitch Noll (6-0, 190) on the offensive line. End Trey Cunningham
(37 tackles) and middle linebacker Jake Ingold (42 tackles) lead the defense, along with a secondary
that returns intact, though the competition there has been strong.
Ben Bartlett (58 carries, 419 yards) is expected to start at running back, and Mike Ranos (44-353),
who could play several different positions on both sides of the ball, will see time there as well.
"That could be a committee situation, especially early on," Rourke stated. "To be honest, no one has
stepped up and said 'that's my job'. We're waiting on that a little bit. But until we see who that is, we will
work guys in and keep guys fresh in there."
Both Rourke and assistant head coach Len Onken pointed to two key areas - offensive guard and
defensive tackle - that could have a major impact on the season.
"You don't want to put it on a kid like that," Onken stated. "But from a team concept, a lot of our
success is going to depend a lot on what we get from those positions. And we're not asking for
anything out of the ordinary. We just need to be solid there."
•At quarterback, senior Charlie Clausner (6-0, 176) will serve as the back-up to Elmore.
•At running back, Bartlett, Ranos, John Hagemann, Mike Kilberg, Carter Cox and Ingold could all see
time, along with two speedy sophomores - Devon VonNordheim Moore and Tony Giovannelli.
•At receiver, senior Blake Curtis (6-3, 177) has emerged as Elmore's top target. Joe Eck, Caleb Cox
and Dallas Tankersley are also in the mix, along with Derek Crouch, Jared Turner and Cory McCurley.
Rourke added that he can put Giovannelli and VonNordheim Moore in as well to help stretch the field.
•Noll, Israel and Sabattini are entrenched on the offensive line, and among those who could see time
at guard include Jake Weinhoff, Brian Cruse, Dan Panzardi, Cunningham and Jeremy Hack.
•On the defensive line, Cunningham will be joined by the likes of Garrett Hay at tackle, along with
Panzardi, Kyle Spencer and Kramer Halverson. Israel and Sabattini could see time as well, Rourke
added.
•At linebacker, Ingold will be in the middle, with McCurley on the strong side and Kilberg on the weak
side. Senior Jordan Blackburn will see significant time as well, at either linebacker or defensive end.
•There are a number of options in the secondary, as Clausner, Kowalenko, Carter Cox and Turner
are all returning starters. Ranos has also seen action there and at linebacker, and Crouch, Curtis, Dan
Ramsden and Zeke Danna are also in the mix.
Junior Tyler Sowards will be the place-kicker, and Tankersley will punt. Ranos may handle kickoff
chores.
•The coaching staff will be doing a lot of mixing and matching, Onken added, as the team works to
create depth at multiple positions.
"We're trying to get our best 22 on the field at all times," he explained. "We know some of these kids
are going to have to play both ways, just hopefully not all the time."
•As for the conference race, SHG will once again go in as the early favorite, and the Cyclones have
won eight straight CS8 titles. Glenwood will again be strong, and Rourke said a couple of other teams,
including Taylorville, Springfield and Southeast, should be improved this season.
"I have to compliment SHG on their recruiting ability," Rourke added. "They've done a nice job of
setting up a four-county all-star team. I'm just thrilled that our kids, under the circumstances and the
way the IHSA has set this up, I'm very proud of our kids to be able to compete the way they do with
clearly two different sets of rules in place."
•Glenwood will open the season this Friday night at home against Troy Triad at 7 p.m. The Titans'
other non-conference game will be at Quincy Senior in Week 9. The same non-conference setup is in
place in 2009 before things get a little hairy in 2010.
Rochester will join the CS8 (CS9?) in 2010, leaving Glenwood with an open non-conference date in
Week 5 in both 2010 and 2011. That open date will move to Week 3 in 2012 unless a 10th conference
team can be added.
•Coaches for Glenwood this year include: Rourke, Onken, David Hay, Steve Cox, Vondel Edgar, Brad
Butcher, Josh Crossland, Steve Rembusch and Jeremy Mosier.
By Joe Pritchett
Chatham Editor
Fans of the Glenwood Titans will not have to travel very far to follow their favorite team this season.
Well, at least until later in October anyway.
The Titans, coming off a solid 8-2 campaign in 2007, will play their first four games at home this
season, and five of their first six. Glenwood's first two road games of 2008 will be played at Memorial
Stadium in Springfield.
It's not until Week 8 when the Titans travel outside the county, when they take on Taylorville, before a
long journey west to Quincy for Week 9.
"It's ridiculous, but we've got it set up that way in the conference," stated Glenwood head coach Dan
Rourke, entering his 16th season. "We had four on the road to start last year. It's gonna change soon,
people are going to start rotating in. But either way, it is what it is."
In 2007, Glenwood lost two very close games, a 40-37 thriller to SHG and a first-round 30-27 defeat
to Bloomington in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs.
The Titans have a number of key performers returning, but the likes of QB David Kaufmann, LB/RB
Josh Atwood, TE/K Kyle Krager, WR Tony Uzzo, RB Tyler Trimberger and stalwart linemen like Ryan
Lee, Brad Holland, Josh Masten and Zach Whitley have graduated, leaving some big holes to fill.
"We had a great offseason," Rourke stated. "I think we got more work done this summer than we
ever have."
And as for his early outlook for the current season, Rourke added, "I think this team can be better
than we were last year, across the board. I think we're a faster team. Last year's team had a lot of
savvy, we're gonna have some youth out there. But if these young guys can pick it up and get to their
comfort zone where they can play full speed and think on the run, then we could be better than we were
last year."
The weather for the first week of practices was beyond unbelievable, with moderate temperatures,
but Rourke cautioned, "I'm just hoping that first ballgame we don't see 95 and humid, because we
haven't had that yet."
Senior Kyle Elmore (6-2, 182) has taken the reins at quarterback after a strong offseason of work,
and Rourke has been impressed with what he's seen so far.
"He's an extremely hard-working kid, and very intent on doing a good job," Rourke explained. "He's
improved quite a bit. He's had a good summer and he's ready to go."
Key returnees from a year ago include tackles Vince Israel (6-6, 270) and Vince Sabattini (6-3, 235),
the "twin towers", along with center Mitch Noll (6-0, 190) on the offensive line. End Trey Cunningham
(37 tackles) and middle linebacker Jake Ingold (42 tackles) lead the defense, along with a secondary
that returns intact, though the competition there has been strong.
Ben Bartlett (58 carries, 419 yards) is expected to start at running back, and Mike Ranos (44-353),
who could play several different positions on both sides of the ball, will see time there as well.
"That could be a committee situation, especially early on," Rourke stated. "To be honest, no one has
stepped up and said 'that's my job'. We're waiting on that a little bit. But until we see who that is, we will
work guys in and keep guys fresh in there."
Both Rourke and assistant head coach Len Onken pointed to two key areas - offensive guard and
defensive tackle - that could have a major impact on the season.
"You don't want to put it on a kid like that," Onken stated. "But from a team concept, a lot of our
success is going to depend a lot on what we get from those positions. And we're not asking for
anything out of the ordinary. We just need to be solid there."
•At quarterback, senior Charlie Clausner (6-0, 176) will serve as the back-up to Elmore.
•At running back, Bartlett, Ranos, John Hagemann, Mike Kilberg, Carter Cox and Ingold could all see
time, along with two speedy sophomores - Devon VonNordheim Moore and Tony Giovannelli.
•At receiver, senior Blake Curtis (6-3, 177) has emerged as Elmore's top target. Joe Eck, Caleb Cox
and Dallas Tankersley are also in the mix, along with Derek Crouch, Jared Turner and Cory McCurley.
Rourke added that he can put Giovannelli and VonNordheim Moore in as well to help stretch the field.
•Noll, Israel and Sabattini are entrenched on the offensive line, and among those who could see time
at guard include Jake Weinhoff, Brian Cruse, Dan Panzardi, Cunningham and Jeremy Hack.
•On the defensive line, Cunningham will be joined by the likes of Garrett Hay at tackle, along with
Panzardi, Kyle Spencer and Kramer Halverson. Israel and Sabattini could see time as well, Rourke
added.
•At linebacker, Ingold will be in the middle, with McCurley on the strong side and Kilberg on the weak
side. Senior Jordan Blackburn will see significant time as well, at either linebacker or defensive end.
•There are a number of options in the secondary, as Clausner, Kowalenko, Carter Cox and Turner
are all returning starters. Ranos has also seen action there and at linebacker, and Crouch, Curtis, Dan
Ramsden and Zeke Danna are also in the mix.
Junior Tyler Sowards will be the place-kicker, and Tankersley will punt. Ranos may handle kickoff
chores.
•The coaching staff will be doing a lot of mixing and matching, Onken added, as the team works to
create depth at multiple positions.
"We're trying to get our best 22 on the field at all times," he explained. "We know some of these kids
are going to have to play both ways, just hopefully not all the time."
•As for the conference race, SHG will once again go in as the early favorite, and the Cyclones have
won eight straight CS8 titles. Glenwood will again be strong, and Rourke said a couple of other teams,
including Taylorville, Springfield and Southeast, should be improved this season.
"I have to compliment SHG on their recruiting ability," Rourke added. "They've done a nice job of
setting up a four-county all-star team. I'm just thrilled that our kids, under the circumstances and the
way the IHSA has set this up, I'm very proud of our kids to be able to compete the way they do with
clearly two different sets of rules in place."
•Glenwood will open the season this Friday night at home against Troy Triad at 7 p.m. The Titans'
other non-conference game will be at Quincy Senior in Week 9. The same non-conference setup is in
place in 2009 before things get a little hairy in 2010.
Rochester will join the CS8 (CS9?) in 2010, leaving Glenwood with an open non-conference date in
Week 5 in both 2010 and 2011. That open date will move to Week 3 in 2012 unless a 10th conference
team can be added.
•Coaches for Glenwood this year include: Rourke, Onken, David Hay, Steve Cox, Vondel Edgar, Brad
Butcher, Josh Crossland, Steve Rembusch and Jeremy Mosier.
Chatham Clarion
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Issue Date: Aug. 28, 2008
