First day of practice: Maine South holds on as one of the few public-school powers in high school football

Private schools have won the past four Class 8A football state championships and dominated most of the larger classes overall. The talent gap between public and private schools is even more stark this season. Catholic League teams will make up the majority of the preseason Super 25.

There are many factors for the rise of the Catholic powers. One is coaching. Private schools are attracting the best young coaches. The few public schools managing to maintain relevance are coached by a handful of elite veteran coaches.

Dave Inserra, now in his 26th season, is one of those. He’s won four state championships and guided his team to eight title games.

But most of the successful public-school coaches are nearing the end of their careers. Inserra reflected on the current situation Wednesday, the first day of football practice across the state.

“How many years do we have left?” Inserra said. “And then what happens?

“My biggest concern is the [IHSA’s rule allowing kids to attend private schools within a] 30-mile radius. Why does anyone have to travel 30 miles to go to school? A 15-mile radius I could understand.”

Inserra has built something special in Park Ridge. Strong feeder programs and a community rabid about high school football has kept the Hawks competitive.

This year’s team is led by a trio of major college recruits. Quarterback Jameson Purcell, an Indiana recruit, is a three-year starter and one of the state’s elite talents. He threw for more than 3,000 yards and 41 TDs last season.

“For me this season is about putting all the pieces together and being a complete player,” Purcell said. “That starts with being the best leader I can, especially with a little bit of a younger team this year.”

Most of Maine South’s offensive line returns, led by Toledo recruit Vuk Strbac (6-5, 275 pounds) and Inserra has confidence in receivers Keaton Vitel and Nick McCarthy.

“We put a lot on [Purcell’s] shoulders, and he has accepted that,” Inserra said. “Be he doesn’t have to do everything.”

Senior linebacker Matthew Schlenhardt will also play running back this season. The Syracuse recruit is the only starter back on the defense.

“There is definitely some work to do,” Schlenhardt said. “A lot of guys have the skill it is just about knowing the playbook and doing everything right. If you do everything right, it is going to work. So that is the big thing right now.”

Maine South finished 10-2 last season and lost a close game to Hersey in the 8A quarterfinals.

“That was kind of an upset and it has given us a different mentality this year,” Strbac said. “We are bringing it.”

Vitel also plays cornerback and will team with safety Hugh Stewart and linemen Mark Orszula and Aidan Connolly to lead the Hawks’ inexperienced defense.

Football started a week earlier this season, and the IHSA has expanded the playoffs by 128 teams. It will likely take just three or four wins to make the playoffs now, instead of five wins.

“I’m not happy with the expansion,” Inserra said. “It was a pretty good format before. Not perfect. But the change favors private schools. A 3-6 private school is going to walk into the playoffs and be in the quarterfinals.”

Maine South has dominated the CSL South for Inserra’s entire tenure. Most years, many of the Hawks’ late-season opponents are already eliminated from the playoffs, with their season essentially pointless. The expansion changes that.

“That’s the one positive thing,” Inserra said. “You start the season1-3 and the kids start to think things are useless. This gives them some life. I get that. I haven’t faced that so I can’t say I understand it, but I get that part.”