Bright outlook for defending champ Stevenson
A downpour pelted Lincolnshire late Monday afternoon. Then, as if on cue, as Stevenson's football team took the field on the first official day of high school football practice, the skies cleared.
The sun splashed down on the Patriots' stadium turf.
Consider it a reminder of last season, when the Patriots shone brighter than they ever have in their storied history.
"It was a great 2014," said coach Bill McNamara, whose squad went 14-0, winning its first state championship (Class 8A). "We had awesome players. They really got the job done. That was yesterday. Now we're in the present and we're looking forward to the 2015 season."
When Stevenson opens its season on Friday night, Aug. 28 at Palatine, it will do so with a team that features only a handful of returning starters, one of which is senior Jack Sorenson, who takes over at quarterback after catching 63 passes as a wide receiver in an all-conference campaign last season. The 6-foot-1 Sorenson committed last month to Miami (Ohio), where he figures to play receiver.
"We're pretty fortunate that he's our quarterback this year," McNamara said. "The thing that impresses me the most is that his mind is right. He's making a lot of good decisions for our offense, and that's what we need out of our quarterback."
Sorenson is no stranger to his new position on the field. He quarterbacked the sophomore team two years ago before earning a postseason promotion to the varsity.
"I've played quarterback my whole entire life, so the transition hasn't been too hard," Sorenson said. "Obviously the (varsity) game is much faster and there's a lot more things to think about once you come up to the line. But as far as the throwing, knowing what to do, where to be and how to hand the ball off, it's come back pretty naturally. It's a very fun transition."
Sorenson replaces three-year starting QB Willie Bourbon, who's playing baseball at Northwestern. Stevenson graduated eight other all-conference players, including wide receiver Cameron Green (Northwestern), running back Jack Joseph, defensive linemen Nick Dillon (Eastern Michigan), Patrick O'Connell (Ball State) and Blake Drazner, linebackers Jason Vravick (Columbia) and Jimmy Marchese (Illinois), and defensive back Kevin Pearson.
Besides Sorenson, the offense returns running back Tyler Vincent, who replaces Joseph after starting as a slot receiver last season, as well as linemen Jake Steinberger, Mike Maskalunas, Cade Gilbert and Jeremy Horwitz. Also back are junior twins Henry and Michael Marchese, both of whom will play receiver.
Maskalunas plays linebacker, as well, and should be the leader of the defense, which will be green to start the season.
As McNamara watched his spirited players go through drills Monday, he sported a perpetual smile.
Hey, after all, football season is back.
"We're out here working right now, and our goal is to get better today," the sixth-year coach said. "If you continue to get better and pay attention to our process of getting better every day, you have a chance to be there at the end."