Forward-thinking Prospect Knights anticipate football success
Prospect is riding some momentum off a 3-game winning streak to close out the 2014 football campaign. But to coach Mike Sebestyen and his Knights, that is all in the past.
"Obviously finishing well was a nice way to end it for senior group going out and for our juniors coming back," Sebestyen said. "It was nice to finish on the upswing.
"But it is not like the momentum has carried over. It was good for the ending of the campaign - good to see what could go on if we put everything together. And it helped the off-season start well. But it is a new season and new team, and new opportunities in front of them."
It may be a new season, but it will be the same quarterback for the Knights in Matt Drew, who will begin his third season as a varsity quarterback. Drew was injured for part of the season last year, but he's come back even stronger, adding about 15 pounds in the off-season.
"Matt is doing real well," Sebestyen said. "It is helpful to have that experience. We have tweaked the offense to fit his skills and flourish."
Also back are other components in the Knights' backfield in Bobby Jarosz, who rushed for over 400 yards last year, and Andrew Shafis, who gained nearly 500 yards.
That duo will get to operate behind an offensive line that returns three starters. Luke Wrede (6-2, 246), Billy Matzek (6-3, 250) and Matt Schultz (6-3, 234) give the Knights size and experience up front. They will be joined by a rotation of Ray Beyer (6-1, 206), Vince Shields (6-5, 243), Alex Palczewski (6-5, 240) and Wojtek Koziol (5-9, 256).
The wide receiver corps of Kyle Zielinski, Zach Gleason, De'Angelo Roberson, Jack Pruban and Sam Lumia did not take a snap last year. But Sebestyen is confident they can get the job done.
The defense also lacks experience with just 3-plus starters returning.
"We played a lot of seniors on that defense last year," Sebestyen said. We will not be as senior-dominated this year. It is a young defense with a good mix of seniors and juniors and they will need some time to blend."
The linebacking group will be very strong with Jake Verschoor returning to set the tone, along with Josh McDermott.
Koziel will anchor a defensive line that will see a mix of Evan Sadlon, Beyer, Schultz, Wrede, Sam Lumia and Zack Klopack.
Robertson will be key to a secondary that will feature Stu Isteefanos, Jarosz, Pruban Shafis and Drew Compton.
"We really want to have a ball-control offense," Sebestyen said. "We want to take some pressure off of them and give them time to jell."
Prospect will open at Jacobs in Algonquin after ending its four-year contract with Glenbrook South
"We like to play openers that we a can learn a lot about ourselves," Sebestyen said. "We really want to focus on the immediate task at hand. That is what we learned most from last year."