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Tough schedule will challenge Kaneland

Kaneland coach Tom Fedderly is fond of answering questions about season-long goals by saying he just wants his team to go 1-0 this week.

That hasn't changed for the upcoming 2016 season, and even with a few graduated players to replace at key positions and some tough games on the schedule, the Knights should have a good chance at completing that 1-0 goal more weeks than not.

"Looking at our schedule it's a really competitive schedule," Fedderly said. "We wanted to challenge our kids. They seem like they are a real competitive group that likes to play football. We're just concentrating on Brooks right now (in Week 1)."

It's in Week 2 when things could get especially interesting. Geneva returns to the Knights' schedule, this time as a nonconference matchup after years of battling for supremacy in the Western Sun.

"We had openings," Fedderly said. "It's hard for us to get three nonconference games. It just worked out they needed one, we needed one. That's going to be a great game."

Kaneland went 7-4 last year, returning to the playoffs after a 6-year streak was snapped in 2014. The Knights graduated quarterback Jake Marczuk, among others.

Junior Jack Douglas, the quarterback for Kaneland's sophomore team last year, takes over.

"Jack has a really good, strong arm," Fedderly said. "He can make all the throws. He's a tall kid. We're pretty happy with the summer he had."

In the backfield the Knights return sophomore Jonathan Alstott, who had the rare distinction of starting at running back as a freshman. Junior Trevor Jones also will get carries.

Josh Marczuk, standing 6-foot-2, and Josh Pollastrini figure to catch plenty of passes from Douglas in Kaneland's spread attack.

The go-to receiver could be senior Matt Noel, also 6-2 and with plenty of playmaking ability.

"He's going to be really involved in our offense," Fedderly said. "He'll run the ball from multiple spots, we'll move him all over the place. He's someone that will be a big weapon for us. He's going to be a very good football player."

Junior tackle Matt Payton and senior guard Hunter Regelbrugge return to the offensive line. They will be joined by senior guard Sam Suggs, junior center Robert Kruz, and left tackle Drew Hahn, a sophomore who overcame cancer and now has a bright future in the sport.

"Drew dealt with cancer in junior high," Fedderly said. "His body, he grew so much last year there were times he was dealing with nagging injuries. But he just looks really strong this year. We're really happy with his progress. He did weight lifting all offseason. He's a pretty strong looking kid."

Hahn also will be a terror on the defensive line. Junior Jacob Brown returns on the line, and Suggs will play there.

Two of the top tacklers on last year's team, Regelbrugge at middle linebacker and free safety senior Matt Redmond, are back ready to lead the unit.

The Knights will turn to Andreas Matarangas, a freshman, at kicker.

"We saw him kick once and we said we are taking him," said Fedderly, who is optimistic about Kaneland's chances to compete with the best in the Northern Illinois Big XII East.

"We have a good group of young kids coming in. I'm pretty happy with our numbers. I'm pretty happy with how the kids are working.

"We tell the kids we want to go 1-0, we want to compete for that conference championship, and we want to get a home playoff game. Those are the goals we are shooting for."

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