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• Mascot: Blue Thunder
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• Pigskin Region (Area Code): 815
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  Belvidere North Building a Football Tradition

  The high school has only existed for three football seasons, but the Belvidere North football team is building a football tradition. The Blue Thunder have qualified for the IHSA playoffs in each of the past two seasons.

  Last year, Belvidere North made the postseason field with a (5-4) record. With wins over (Chicago) Robeson (14-7) and (Chicago) Hubbard (29-26), the Blue Thunder reached the IHSA Class 6A quarterfinals. Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge ousted them out of the Elite Eight round with a (28-20) victory.

  Over the course of the season, the offense averaged over 23 points/game, while the defense gave up just over 22 points/game. Their season high in points was during a week four win over Freeport (50-32), while they yielded 40 points in a season opening shutout loss to Rockton Hononegah.

  Tony Tindle (6'0" 195 Sr.) returns at quarterback, after throwing for 903 yards and 8 touchdowns. Tindle had a 58% completion rate, and also gained 496 yards on the ground, and added 7 touchdowns via the run. Austin Smaha (6'1" 215 Jr.) is back at running back. He rushed for 400 yards as a sophomore. Other returning starters on offense are; Alex Gomez (6'0" 185 Sr. WR), James Moton (6'0" 190 Sr. OL), and Josh Dummer (6'4" 250 Sr. OL).

  Defensively, only four starters are back. A pair of two-way starters will take the field for the Blue Thunder. Alex Gomez will line up in the secondary, and Austin Smaha will be at linebacker. Smaha tallied 66.5 tackles a year ago. Andres Corral (6'0" 190 Jr. DL) and Brandon Bowen (6'1" 195 Sr. DL) are also back.

  Newcomers at Belvidere North will be; Isaac Garcia (5'10" 185 Jr. LB/WR), Kurt Siemsen (6'2" 180 Jr. WR/DB), Dustin Dussalt (5'10" 215 Jr. OL/LB), and Michael Hejmej (6'0" 200 Jr. OL/DL).

  With two trips to the postseason in the school's short history, there is no doubt that is once again a goal in 2010. "We would like to finish in the top three of the conference and qualify for the state playoffs. Advancing in the playoffs is the goal we have every year. Last year, we made it to the quarterfinals, and are going to strive to make it back there, and beyond," Zarembski said.

  In the NIC-10 last season, Rockford Boylan cleared the slate with a (9-0) mark. Harlem (8-1) finished second and Hononegah (7-2) came in third. Belvidere North finished in fourth with Rockford Guilford and Belvidere, with five wins each.

  Zarembski enters his first season as head coach at Belvidere North, and his first head coaching job. He played at Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1996 and finished at Rock Valley College in 1997.

  Assistant coaches are; Mike Ellingson, Dan Smaha, Darrin Sisk, Curt Tobin, and Ken Anderson.