AT A GLANCE
Nickname Blazers
Colors Blue and white
Stadium name and location Lombard and Army Trail Roads, Addison
Enrollment 1,874
Class 7A
Coach Paul Parpet
Last year’s overall record 1-8
Conference (plus record and place finish) West Suburban Gold 1-5 sixth

Top returners

Mike D’Ambrose    sr.    RB/LB
Marcus Capizzano    sr.    OL/DL
Nick Kamide    sr.    QB/LB
Frank Cervantes    jr.    RB
Mike Colatorti    jr.    OL/DL
Mike Kluczny    sr.    OL
Chaz Klein    sr.    OL
Nick Addante    sr.    DL
Colton Musto    sr.    DL
Nick Addante    sr.    DL
Mike Addante    jr.    DL
Promising newcomers

Geo Archundia    jr.    DB/WR
Kerin Ramirez    jr.    DL


Season schedule

Aug. 29    Wheaton North        7:30 p.m.
Sept. 5        Downers North        7:30 p.m.
Sept. 12    at Morton    7:30 p.m.
Sept. 19    Proviso East    7:30 p.m.
Sept. 27    at Glenbard West    1:30 p.m.
Oct. 3        Willowbrook    7:30 p.m.
Oct. 10        at Downers South    7:30 p.m.
Oct. 17        at Leyden    7:30 p.m.
Oct. 24        Hinsdale South     7:30 p.m.
  
    
Games to watch

Sept. 5 vs. Downers North - Like the Blazers, the Trojans endured an injury-plagued season last year. A win here would immensely help Addison Trail’s hopes of a big bounceback season.

Oct. 10 vs. Willowbrook - Regardless of whether the two teams’ respective win totals, this cross-district battle is almost always a close and well-played game.

5-year trend
        overall        conference        playoffs
‘07        1-8                1-5
‘06        8-2                6-0            lost 1st round
‘05        4-5                4-2       
‘04        8-3                5-1            lost 2nd round
‘03        3-6                2-4
 

Swatting the injury bug
The high hopes carrying over from an 8-2 record in 2006 vaporized into a season of seemingly endless injuries last fall. With the WSC Gold appearing pretty wide open besides perennial power Downers Grove South (9-1 last year), the Blazers have a chance to springboard right back near or above the .500 mark.

“To compete, we have to stay healthy,” coach Paul Parpet said.

Despite the adversity, the Blazers showed battling spirit to the end of every game (including a mere 28-20 loss against playoff qualifier Leyden).

Running on all cylinders
While the Blazers must replace last year’s senior all-everything Vince Beachem, a gamebreaker as a rusher, receiver, kick returner and cornerback, the running game is on very solid footing entering 2008.

“One kid Mike D’Ambrose missed the first three games of the year and still rushed for almost 800 yards and 11 touchdowns,” Parpet said. “He’s a tough kid, and also a heck of a hockey player. He’s a darned good running back.”

D’Ambrose had strong showings against a pair of five-win teams, running for 164 yards in his season debut against Proviso East and scoring two touchdowns against Leyden.

A second runaway threat
Frank Cervantes had his football season sidetracked last year, but should provide a great 1-2 punch with D’Ambrose.

“He was a state qualifier (last spring) in the 200 meters,” Parpet said. “He could be very talented as a junior for us, but we couldn’t evaluate him because he only played one game last year (before his injury).”

Addison Trail’s quarterbacking chores will be handled by Nick Kamide, a strong 6-foot-1, 210-pounder who also starts at outside linebacker.

Lining up well
 The Blazers’ offensive and defensive lines appear to be solid, with three starters back on offense in Mike Colatorti, Zach Klemm (brought up from sophomores in Week 7) and Marcus Capizzano.

“Marcus is only 190 (pounds),” Parpet said, “but he’s a typical Addison Trail player, tough.”
Mike Kluczny and Chaz Klein also return up front after being injured much of last year. The defensive line is also deep, with Colton Musto, Kerin Ramirez and Nick Addante among the leaders.

Senior says
Marcus Capizzano

How do you feel about your team’s chances to bounce back this year?
Just the workouts we put in during the offseason with each other have helped a lot bringing us together as a team, and a big thing is getting some returning players back who were injured last year. No one could stay healthy last year, but this year all the guys on the team are back on their feet.

What specific goals does your team have this fall?
“The biggest thing is to improve our record from last year. That was a rough year, but this year we’re striving for a spot in the playoffs. We have a lot of big goals for our offense and defense, but we have a lot of players going both ways (starting on both offense and defense) so a big key is to stay healthy.”