Stops a good sign for Barrington

Barrington knew success this season would start with stops.

The Broncos’ 4-1 start going into tonight’s Mid-Suburban West showdown at Palatine isn’t as good as a year ago when they won their first seven.

But statistically the defense is much better as they are third in the MSL behind Conant and Palatine at 256 yards allowed per game. Last year they were 10th at 323 yards allowed a game.

“I feel we have a lot more team speed this year,” said Barrington senior cornerback-receiver Dylan Zyzda. “A lot more speed is the big thing and better athletes.

“We have Chase (Murdock) back now in the (linebacker) rotation with (Andrew) Merkle and Sam (Handler) at the other cornerback.

“Our best athletes don’t leave the field this year.”

Barrington gave up its season high of 23 points in its season-opening loss at Libertyville. Now the defense faces a tough offensive challenge in Palatine’s running game led by John Serio and a veteran offensive line.

“I think we’re getting there,” said Barrington coach Joe Sanchez. “The kids understand what we’re doing and swarm to the ball, which is what you want to see.

“We’re certainly happy with the progress but the next few weeks things are going to move up a level. That’s what we’re preparing for and we’re excited for the challenge.”

The Broncos’ offensive line depth allowed senior Ben Calamari to move from center to the defensive side. Calamari and Sean Caffe were frequent visitors to the Hoffman Estates’ backfield in Saturday’s 44-6 victory.

“It was nothing bad (with Ben) but we felt we wanted to evaluate what he did,” Sanchez said. “He’s become a force on the defensive line.”

Knight line: Prospect has put together a tradition of strong offensive linemen.

This year is proving to be no exception as seniors Caleb Wachsmuth and Austin Tixier, juniors Kevin Kern and Mike Houghton and sophomore Jackson Wrede led the way to 100-yard rushing games for sophomore Sam Mazukelli and quarterback Sam Frasco in last week’s 35-20 win at Hersey.

“I felt we did a lot of good things and the line played really well,” said Prospect coach Mike Sebestyen. “Mazukelli has really come into his own. ‘Rup’ (assistant Joe Rupslauk) keeps telling me he has a 6.7 per carry average and we joke that it’s also his 40 (yard) time.

“(Sam) just smiles at you and he reminds me of some of the guys on the 2002 (state title) team.”

Wrede’s development has also allowed Mike Etchingham to focus primarily on playing middle linebacker. But Etchingham showed he still he can still find the end zone with his 52-yard interception return last week.

“He’s continued to lobby to play on offense after taking one back to the house,” Sebestyen laughed. “He’s played a lot better defensively. Not that he played badly, but this is able to get us where we needed to be.”

Fremd’s running game getting A.J. grade: One of the keys to Fremd’s success since its season-opening loss has been the running of senior A.J. McGhee.

McGhee carried 35 times for 144 yards last week and has rushed for 495 yards on 108 carries this season. He has three 100-yard games and just missed another by 2 yards.

“A.J. has definitely grown up,” said Fremd coach Mike Donatucci. “It’s a combination of the line, the two-back and three-back stuff and having (Josh) Jyawook back as a threat receiving-wise, people have to play us more honest.

“There’s no way A.J. can carry the whole team on his back like (Justin) Wallace (last year) or Evan (Wright, two years ago), but he’s running physical and he’s running smart. Sometimes it looks like he isn’t getting anything but he’s getting 4-5 yards a crack.”

On the rebound: How will Conant respond to its first loss after a 4-0 start?

“They took it pretty hard on Friday but we’ll try to use it as a lesson,” Conant coach Bill Modelski said of the loss to Fremd. “I think they’ve accepted it and realize you don’t get second chances.

“I don’t want to diminish what Fremd accomplished because they executed well and came out after us. But we weren’t sharp and kept making mistake after mistake and it put us behind the 8-ball.”

The Cougars are getting some help for the final four-game stretch starting tonight at Hoffman Estates. Laderrian Watson, who was considered their top pass rusher, returns from a broken collarbone.

“I don’t know how much he’ll play yet but he looks pretty good,” Modelski said. “He’s 6-1, 200 pounds and runs like crazy. It’s nice to have him back.”

And Modelski hopes the addition of former soccer player Justin Carpenter solves some kicking-game troubles. Carpenter was going to come out at the start of the season but had to deal with a bad hamstring.

“It’s helpful because with red-zone bogdowns we’ve come up empty instead of coming away with 3 points,” Modelski said. “He’s pretty solid. He has a pretty strong leg.”

Hawks hang in there: Opposing coaches genuinely believe Hoffman Estates is better than it has been in the past even though it doesn’t show in the win column.

Hoffman senior offensive lineman Kyle Hendle agreed after his team fell to 0-5 with last Saturday’s 44-6 loss at Barrington.

“I think we’re a lot better than last year,” Hendle said after the Hawks had 143 of their 270 yards at halftime. “Our offense has gotten a lot stronger and defensively it’s the same thing. We need to put it all together.”

That’s been the biggest challenge for the Hawks as they have been hurt by 22 turnovers.

“It puts us back but we need to play through it,” Hendle said. “You’re going to turn the ball over every once in awhile.

“Once we get it going we’ll go. We’re just trying to fight through adversity.”

That was evident to Hoffman coach Bill Helzer on Saturday.

“We moved the ball well and we ran the ball better than we have in the past,” Helzer said. “We made some (third down) conversions, made some plays and made some drives. The kids didn’t quit.”

Record breaker: Leyden finally got its offense going last Friday but it wasn’t close to enough against Hinsdale South.

The Hornets’ 60-35 West Suburban Gold victory was the most points Leyden has allowed in its 85-year history. It had given up 56 twice in losses to Willowbrook in 2002 and Lyons in 2007.

The combined 95 points broke the Leyden record of 85 set in a 49-36 win over Niles North in 2007. And the 35 points were the most the Eagles have ever scored in a defeat.

Bazsali’s turnaround: Former Elk Grove coach Bruce Bazsali is in his second year of trying to rebuild Rockford Lutheran that has won just 4 games the last five years and six games the last eight years.

A 39-20 victory last Friday over Rock Falls saw Rockford Lutheran improve to 2-3 under Bazsali, who retired from Elk Grove in 2004. Winning its Big Northern West opener also ended a 27-game division losing streak.