Mason says Elgin will be better this season

Second-year Elgin football coach Anthony Mason said he sees improvement in a varsity program that enters the season on a 10-game losing streak.

Though he can't predict how many wins and losses such improvement might translate to considering the Maroons have won only 3 games since their last playoff appearance in 2010, the former Northern Illinois defensive back believes the seeds sewn in his first season have begun to take root.

"We will be better than we were last year," Mason said of his squad of 44 players. "But we're not at the point where we can look at other teams and worry about them. Right now I'm worried about getting players to commit to the Elgin program. We had a full off-season and guys are working very hard. We're learning from our mistakes from last year and I think we'll be a much better team. We're already a better program."

Mason said the program is better because Elgin players have taken heed of his message to do positive things in the community and the classroom in addition to the football field.

Attendance at off-season weight training was up, he said, thanks to leaders like Jacob Narayan (5-foot-10, 200 pounds), who will again anchor the defense at middle linebacker. The senior's knowledge of the defense allows him to play at high speed, his coach said.

Senior Raul Saldana (6-1, 225) will play important roles on the defensive line and offensive lines for the second straight season.

The secondary is strengthened by a pair of veterans: senior safety/linebacker Roberto Perez and senior cornerback Shareick Morris. Andrew Staine mans the other cornerback spot. He gained experience last season as a sophomore. So did Kristan Flowers, who can transition smoothly between linebacker and lineman.

"We want our defense to play physical and fast. That's what we've been preaching all summer," Mason said. "Pursue to the ball with reckless abandon and controlled chaos."

Offensively, Morris will be Elgin's "Mr. Everything" and "our Reggie Bush," according to his coach, who said Morris could line up at wide receiver, wildcat quarterback, punt returner and kick returner in addition to his duties in the secondary. Morris runs a legitimate 4.4 in the 40-yard dash.

Returning to anchor the offensive line alongside Saldana is senior Jonathan Syrek (6-2, 230).

Who plays quarterback behind them is still in question a week before the season opener. Competing for the job are Flowers, who Mason calls "tough, athletic and committed" and senior Titus Ahrens, a varsity basketball player who did not play football as a junior.

Mason said the top running back on the depth chart is junior Dae'Vion Arthur, who dedicated himself to the program at the end of last season, his coach said. Arthur runs with an attitude and rarely goes down on first contact. Sophomore call-up Ramon Bridges has speed in the backfield to complement Arthur's physical running style.