Jacobs poised to take next step
Former Jacobs athletic director Tom Ross said when he hired IHSFCA Hall-of-Famer Bill Mitz to take over the football program in 2010 that he did so partly because he believed Mitz could get more potential football players in the building to participate in the sport.
After a successful first season in which Mitz led the Golden Eagles to a 6-4 record and the program’s first playoff berth since 2006, interest in football has never been higher among the Jacobs student population. A total of 58 players comprise the varsity roster, 38 more are playing on the sophomore level and a whopping 70 freshmen are out for the sport this fall.
“I think the excitement level is high in our community right now,” said Mitz, who enters the season with 203 career victories. “We took some steps last year. Now, we have to take the next step. We have to take care of business against the three teams we lost to last year as well as the others.
Jacobs lost regular-season games to eventual Class 6A semifinalist Prairie Ridge (33-6) and eventual Class 6A quarterfinalists Cary-Grove (49-21) and Crystal Lake South (28-14).
“We have to beat some of those teams to make people believe and say ‘Oh my, they are for real,’” Mitz added.
The amount of experienced talent returning to skill positions on offense could make believers of opposing defensive coordinators. Returning in the backfield are third-year starters Jason Judson (6-1, 190) at quarterback and tailback Caz Zyks (5-10, 185) and returning fullback Kyle Wright (6-1, 200) .
Last fall Zyks (1,087 yards, 17 TDs) and Wright (807 yards, 11 TDs) posted the second- and third-highest single-season rushing totals in school history, respectively, en route to gaining all-FVC Valley honors. Judson completed 59 of 119 attempts for 856 yards, 5 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.
Sophomore quarterback Bret Mooney (6-2, 200) can also play, Mitz said.
A key offensive weapon is all-FVC Valley tight end Henry Gigeous (6-3, 210). The senior caught 12 balls for 228 yards and 3 touchdowns last year. Junior Jake Gierlak (5-10, 180) is another target.
Playing football this fall will be the final act for Gigeous as a high school athlete. Already committed to play baseball at the University of Oregon, he intends to graduate early in December and forgo his senior year of high school baseball in favor of joining the Oregon baseball program this spring, his father Duane recently told the Daily Herald.
Three of Jacobs’ 13 returning starters are offensive linemen. Senior tackle Maciej Kozlowski (6-5, 295), junior tackle Adam Kulon (6-5, 240) and senior guard Jack Cha (5-11, 260) helped pave the way last season for 2,112 rushing yards.
Five starters return on defense: linebackers Tyler Heiss (6-1, 195) and Evan Bishop (6-4, 220) and Kulon; senior safety Cam Bokowy (6-0, 170); and defensive lineman Dave Zielinski (6-3, 210).
Athletes from other sports are coming out for football and filling in the gaps. Offensive lineman Adam Yontz (6-3, 260), safety Connor Conzelman (6-2, 200) and cornerback John Holbrook (5-9, 190) are all basketball players. Defensive end Mark Self (6-2, 215) and senior defensive back Ryan Ulmer (6-1, 170) are baseball players.
The Golden Eagles hope to capitalize on the momentum they built in the weight room in the off-season and added to during their three-day camp at Carthage College.
“This group has worked extremely hard,” Mitz said. “They took about a week off after we lost in the playoffs to Lake Zurich. They got in the weight room, got stronger, got faster and had a great summer. We’re confident and excited to get started.”