New coach Mason liking what he sees at Elgin
Folks in Elgin are thoroughly familiar with construction projects.
On the north end of town, the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway I-90 remains a patchwork of shifting lanes during a rebuilding and widening project scheduled for completion in 2016.
On the south end of town, the new $44 million U.S. Route 20 interchange at McLean Blvd. inches toward completion this fall.
As for the reconstruction of Elgin football, which has gone 3-33 since its last playoff appearance under coach Dave Bierman in 2010? It's ahead of schedule, according to new coach Anthony Mason.
A standout defensive back at Bishop McNamara in Kankakee who went on to play at Northern Illinois under coaches Joe Novak and Jerry Kill, the Maroons' new leader is optimistic the team can compete on the heels of a 1-8 season by taking the hard hat approach.
"This group is focused, working hard and paying attention," said Mason, who takes over for Kyle Rohde, who stepped down after two years as head coach due to family health concerns. "Their attitudes have been great. Things are ahead of where we thought we'd be. Guys are pushing it and coming along very well. We're building something here."
With a varsity roster that includes a returning quarterback, athletic receivers and backs, an improving offensive line and the addition of senior basketballer Lavion Baldwin, Mason believes the Maroons can be better than they've been in recent years.
One reason for optimism is the offensive line, which the new coach characterizes as "big, but young." The unit is led by senior Raul Saldana (6-1, 250) and Jonathan Syrek, a 6-foot-1, 245-pound junior who assumed a leadership role during the summer, Mason said.
They are joined on the line by stout seniors like Alejandro Perez (6-0, 312) and Alexander Quezada (6-4, 265) and junior Fernando Vargas (6-3, 300). Junior Heberto Perez (6-2, 200) plays tight end.
That group protects athletic signal caller Terrance Miller Allen. The senior started 5 games at quarterback last season and also played defense. Miller Allen completed 37 of 81 attempts for 524 yards and 4 touchdowns and was intercepted 6 times.
Also returning to the backfield is senior fullback Austin Waarich, who doubles as a linebacker. Waarich carried 27 times for 54 yards as a junior, but he could gain better traction behind a bigger offensive line. He also caught 4 passes for 23 yards and a touchdown. Junior Jacob Narayan (5-8, 190) will spell Waarich in the backfield.
A pair of high-level basketball players fill wide receiver roles. Desmond Douglas, a starting guard for the basketball team, returns at one receiver spot. Last season he caught 11 passes for 86 yards. He is joined by Baldwin, a 6-foot-4 senior who is one of the best athletes in the building. The senior returns to the football field after a junior basketball season in which he topped 17 points per game.
"They are all about it," Mason said of Douglas and Baldwin. "I presented what it would take and they've jumped on it. They are catching the ball well. It's great to see them come over from the great basketball program coach (Mike) Sitter has going and bring some positive energy to the football program."
Other top returnees who will get a chance to catch the ball include speedy seniors JoJo Span (3 rec., 43 yards) and Tyrese Riley (9 rec., 85 yards).
Unfortunately, Mason said he expects seven or eight players to play on both sides of the ball, spelled occasionally by younger backups.
On the positive side of the ledger, Elgin has an abundance of skill-position players and most have learned multiple positions. If a key player goes down, the Maroons intend to adjust and move forward.
Now it's just a matter of avoiding the big potholes and detours that can send them off course.
"I told our guys we're prepared for all things," Mason said. "On the positive side, if things go well, we could see a good record. If not, we'll see a bad record. It's all on us. I'm confident if we approach things with focus and intensity, we'll be on the good side."