Sycamore
Coach: Joe Ryan (50-41, 10th season)
2012 record: 7-4, 3-2 Northern Illinois Big 12 East; lost 24-22 to Montini in second round of Class 5A playoffs
Key players: Devin Mottet, sr., QB; Ben Niemann, sr., WR/S; Brett Weaver, jr., LB; Logan Schneider, sr., LB; Daniel Coovert, jr., C
Key losses: Austin Culton, RB; Jake Davis, DL; Martin Malone, OG; David Compher, WR
Coach Joe Ryan's take: "We talked about our ceiling. We're a long ways away from our ceiling as long as we keep working, things will be good. If we think we've arrived anywhere, then we'll get smacked in the mouth, our schedule is too difficult."
Our prediction: 7-2
- Ross Jacobson, rjacobson@shawmedia.com