Conference Breakdown: CCL/ESCC Orange
EDGYTIM's Predicted Finish for the 2021 CCL/ESCC Orange Conference
+Joliet Catholic
*Montini Catholic
Providence Catholic
St. Laurence
+denotes predicted 2021 conference champion
*denotes 2021 IHSA state playoff projected qualifier
The 2021 CCL/ESCC Orange looks quite a bit different this fall compared to the spring season. Into the new CCL/ESCC Orange steps Joliet Catholic (White) Montini Catholic (Green) and Providence Catholic (Green) while the lone holdover to the Orange remains St. Laurence. In many ways this four team conference features four programs capable of being IHSA state playoff teams this fall. Also all four CCL/ESCC Orange teams no question schedule "up" when it comes to non conference opponents and between the non conference schedule along with the CCL/ESCC crossover games....no one here has anything easy this fall.
Joliet Catholic and head coach Jake Jaworski posted a perfect 6-0 spring season record, and while the spring slate wasn't loaded with world beaters, anyone who saw the Hilltoppers last spring they had a stacked lineup. The Hilltoppers this fall will again have a loaded lineup. JCA welcomes back 13 returning starters including 8 back on offense. The Hilltoppers offense will again feature a powerful running game led by senior RB Jordan Anderson (Illinois) along with senior RB Vinny Iannantone and senior FB Ryan Loughan while senior QB Aidan Voss is very capable dual threat signal caller and a three year varsity starter this fall. The line play? JCA welcome back three starter on the offensive line in senior Josh Jones, senior Niko Paolino and senior Lucas Sartori. The Hilltoppers defense will welcome back 5 starters and keep an eye on senior S/OLB Malachi Hood (Illinois) along with senior LB Robbie Purchase and senior Michael Rouse. The main question for the Hilltoppers this fall is can they replace three starting defensive backs this summer, two of which are playing D1 football this fall in Jabril Williams (Navy) and Desean Washington (Army)?
Montini Catholic and head coach Mike Bukovsky are looking to improve on a somewhat surprising 3-3 spring season. The Broncos junior QB Cole Teschner will be the starter this fall. Teschner has all the tools to develop into a top notch signal caller and he will be asked to spark a Broncos offense that was inconsistent at times last spring. Junior RB Josh Robinson showed some real flashes of good things to come last spring, and also keep an eye on a core of underclassmen receivers and back who have talent, speed and upside. Montini this summer is looking to replace several starter upfront on the offensive and defensive lines from the spring season. Keep an eye on Montini junior LB Caden Phengkaiokaisone along with junior DB Dalonte Butcher this season on the Broncos defense.
Providence Catholic and longtime head coach Mark Coglianese announced earlier this spring that this fall season will be his last coaching the football team. The Celtics will also look to replace several roster losses from the spring season. The Celtics welcome back just 7 returning starter (4 offense 3 defense) and will need to replace nearly it's entire offensive skills group minus senior WR/DB Brayden Garrigan. Junior QB Lucas Proudfoot will get his shot at leading the Providence Catholic offense this season and Proudfoot has been solid this spring and summer at various camps.
St. Laurence and head coach Adam Nissen is looking to improve upon the Vikings 2-4 spring season this fall. The Vikings will welcome back 8 returning starters (3 offense 5 defense) and keep an eye out for the linebacker play led by senior Ryan Carroll along with senior Zack Siebenaler as keys this season for St. Laurence. The Vikings bigger question this summer also involved being able to reload on both the offensive and defensive line with just one starter back on each side of the football in senior OL Andrew Rybicki and senior DL Aidan Anderson.
They Said It! Quotes from Those Around the CCL/ESCC Orange Conference
"It's a different look this fall in the Orange. All four teams are solid programs and all four will have a shot at state playoffs."
"Joliet Catholic is a monster."
"Providence seems like they have dropped off a bit. I know they had very low underclassmen numbers the last few years."
"Montini just didn't seem like the same program we played in the past this spring, but they always have talent."
"Joliet Catholic has good numbers and the talent level is really high."
"St.Laurence is that team no one really wants to play. They are alway well coached and they just play hard."
Preseason Conference MVP?
Joliet Catholic senior RB Jordan Anderson. Anderson, who is verbally committed to Illinois is a monster sized back who has all the physical tools and potential to become an All State running back this fall. Anderson (6-foot-3, 230 pounds) is a physical freak of a back who runs with both power and speed. Anderson also has excellent feet and first step explosiveness, can get up to full speed in a few steps and his cutback ability and downfield vision is uncanny in a 6-foot-3, 230 pound plus running back. Many will compare Anderson to former Joliet Catholic standout RB Ty Isaac, and why not? Anderson I feel has that same ability that Ty Isaac had in becoming a major game breaker back with every single carry.
Sleeper Player to Watch?
Joliet Catholic senior QB Aidan Voss- Joliet Catholic has a tradition of running the football as a first, second and third option of it's vaunted power run offense. Yet under head coach Jake Jaworski, the Hillmen have tweaked the offense to become more and more play action friendly. Senior QB Aidan Voss is a multi-sport three year varsity starter this fall who's overall game has improved each season. Voss has a very solid and accurate arm, is capable of keeping team honest with his running ability and has brought more and more of a big play/quick strike potential to an offense that already was highly effective without throwing a pass.
Toughest Overall Schedule?
Joliet Catholic- The Hilltoppers and head coach Jake Jaworski are not playing around this season with the non conference portion of the schedule. The Hilltoppers open up at home against Simeon, a team that always has speed and athletes along with a big and physical line play. Week 2 Joliet Catholic hits the road and takes on one of the top St. Louis area private school powers in Cardinal Ritter a program that is expected to be one of the highest ranked team in the St. Louis this fall. Joliet Catholic also will host Crete-Monee Week 5 and the Warriors just never back down from anyone. Crete-Monee and head coach John Konecki always has an explosive offense with a ton of play makers in all three phases of the game year in and year out.
Top 2021 Conference Games?
Providence Catholic @ Joliet Catholic - September 17th-This on again off again rivalry game is deserving of being played on a more frequent basis in my opinion. Heck, that's the opinion of every JCA and Provi fan as well. This game is personal on both sides and is always heated.
St. Laurence at Montini Catholic September 17th- This is another Week 1 CCL/ESCC Orange conference game that will give us an early indicator of just where each program is headed in the remainder of the regular season.
Joliet Catholic at Montini Catholic October 22nd- Week 9? Sure I'll take that game anytime and especially with the playoff history between these two program....I fully expect both teams to be geared up for this game. Also odds are some IHSA playoff implications will also be in play here for both the Hilltoppers and the Broncos.
CCL/ESCC Orange Conference Statement Game?
Joliet Catholic at Brother Rice- October 8th Crossover games in the CCL/ESCC conference are always big, and this Week 8 showdown against Brother Rice no question will be a terrific late regular season test for both programs. I expect both the Hillmen and the Crusaders to both be highly ranked heading into this. Also the game in Week 2 against Cardinal Ritter in St. Louis is also a big time early matchup worthy of a mention.
Wanna talk more about this conference? Make sure to check out and talk about the 2021 CCL/ESCC Orange Conference on the EDGY Nation Premium forum after each Conference Call and let us know your thoughts on this conference race.