Palatine, with a deep and talented senior class coming off a 9-2 season, figures to be one of the top football teams in the area this fall.
But the Pirates won’t be at full strength for one of the state’s marquee Week 1 match-ups, an Aug. 24 home game against three-time defending Class 5A champ Montini.
Two Palatine players will miss the game for disciplinary reasons: linebacker John Serio and cornerback Dan Riddle. And star defensive back Jesse Bobbitt’s status is uncertain for the opener because of a stress fracture in his hip.
“We’ll get Jesse back at the latest by (the) conference (opener),” Pirates coach Tyler Donnelly said. “It’s conceivable he could play against Montini.”
