Schaumburg focusing on six-cess
Schaumburg is hoping to have a sixth sense about the playoffs this season.
The Saxons are looking to qualify for the playoffs for the sixth time under head coach Mark Stilling. And Schaumburg will be looking to do that with six starters returning on offense and six back on defense.
“It has been a productive summer,” Stilling said. “I think we have a chance to be extremely competitive.”
Stilling, who has been at the helm for eight years, has built a 45-36 mark. He has taken his Saxons to the state playoffs five times in the last seven years. The only two years his teams failed to qualify, Schaumburg dropped their final game of the season to finish 4-5.
“Week 9 is always a playoff game for us,” Stilling said. “Hopefully we won’t have to worry about that this year.”
Those playoffs may come a bit easier if the Saxons can build on the 12 returning starters they have this year.
“We are really counting on our experience,” Stilling said. “You take some things for granted. It is the little things that they do. They are really good at attending to some details and lesser experienced kids might not comprehend.”
It will all start at the quarterback spot, where Stacey Smith will be in command. Smith, who is a senior, rushed for 632 yards and ran and passed for 4 touchdowns.
“We will be pretty similar offensively,” Stilling said. “As athletic as Stacy is, he has an extremely impressive arm. We need to find ways to make sure we are taking advantage not only his ability to run the ball, but to throw it as well.”
Jarman Mcmillon and Ryan Tuma should be Smith’s main targets when the ball is in the air.
Sadarriss Patterson, will also be a key to the Saxon offense. Patterson, who will line up at running back, scampered for nearly 900 yards last season and scored 12 touchdowns. Stilling also likes the play of junior Justice MacNeal-Young.
The duo should get lots of room to roam behind the offensive line of four-year starter Matt Zolper (6-foot-2, 275 pounds), Alex Piotrowski (6-1, 220), Justin Sanchez (6-0, 265) and Matt Stopka (5-11, 211).
Schaumburg brings back a strong secondary that should be the backbone for the defense.
Eddy Kelly and Ryan Woloszyk both return at the safety spot. Connor Lapinski and Blake Wittkamp also come back at the linebacker spot while Rahsaan Green Jr. is back playing corner. Patterson will go both ways, playing the other linebacker spot while Shandall Thomas will be the other cornerback.
Stilling likes his defensive backfield, but other than Zolper, the defensive front lacks significant experience.
“We will be inexperienced upfront on defense,” Stilling said. “But we like the nucleus behind them.”
Michael Fan and Noah Miller will be a key factor in how well the Saxons can defend up front.
Schaumburg will have a tough start to the season, playing three of its first four games on the road.
“We are greedy,” Stilling said. “We just want our kids to play hard.”