Scouts Football Depth Chart: Positional Standouts Heading Into Geneva Game
The Scouts are back home to host Geneva Saturday in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Class 6A playoffs.
What will player rotations look like?
Here’s how Lake Forest’s depth chart stands out at each positional group heading into tonight’s game (embedded links are to a player’s football-specific social media feed).
Quarterback
Danny Van Camp — Senior
Braden Hoskins — Junior
Sufyan Hussain — Junior
Analysis: To watch Van Camp’s poise throughout the six-play 98-yard game-clinching drive Saturday was to watch a player in full control of the system and unit. In the waning seconds, when the Scouts were at first playing for a field goal, then decided to win the game with a touchdown, fans saw no panic from Van Camp, only pinpoint execution. He made completions to six different players against Libertyville and that’s how teams win playoff games — with meticulous patience and healthy distribution. More of the same this Saturday will be required of Van Camp if Lake Forest is to advance.
Running Back
Marty Hippel — Senior
Matthew Chabraja — Senior
David Carrillo — Senior
Owen Yates — Junior
Fin Michael — Junior
Ryan Valentincic — Senior
Analysis: The high work rate of Hippel — just about every snap — was necessary against Libertyville. Yates’ return gives the Scouts another option at ‘H’ back, a strong runner who can get positive yardage if Hippel needs a breather. In its second-round game, Geneva’s defense struggled to manage Burlington Central’s downhill running game. Lake Forest is not a lead/power run team but it has been effective running against three-down alignments as Geneva deploys (although they are multiple). At this point of the season, teams are not going to stray too far from what they do best. If Hippel carries the ball 20-25 times and reaches or eclipses a 4.5 yards per carry average, the Scouts will take the result.
Receiver
Charlie Markee — Senior
Bink Hartline — Senior
Gavin Burns — Senior
Henry Mulliken — Junior
Analysis: The end of game sequence from Saturday encapsulates the relationship between quarterback and receiving corps. Trust that Markee would be in the right spot, trust that Burger would run the right route and on the red zone slant, catch the ball in a tight window. Thousands of practice reps all coming together, the outcome a road playoff victory. Geneva plays a form of man coverage in the secondary but not pure man (Cover 0 or 1). The weak side — opposite the extra defensive back — presents opportunity. The offense has done a great job all year hitting their marks against zone coverage and scheming into man advantages.