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Fresh start has Grant excited

The old coach, Mark Barczak, still in fighting shape, is here. Tom Evans is also back after three years away from the sidelines.

They serve as a reminder of what Grant football was all about not long ago: winning and hard work.

"That was intentional," Bulldogs first-year head coach Chris Robinson said. "I wanted to go to those guys after we found out some guys were stepping away."

The Bulldogs made the state playoffs in five of Barczak's 14 seasons, before Kurt Rous guided them to six postseason berths in eight years. But Rous resigned after a 3-6 campaign in 2013, and the Bulldogs managed only 7 wins in three seasons under head coach Vito Andriola.

So now Robinson, who like Rous graduated from Grant (Class of 2006) and played football for the Bulldogs, gets a chance to bring winning back to Fox Lake. He coached under Andriola the last three years and also was on Rous' 2013 staff.

"We're excited," Robinson said. "We're starting a new chapter."

And, understandably, the players are excited about the fresh start.

"It feels good coming back, a new program," senior cornerback Evan Viscioni said. "You can just feel it, how everybody's more positive, especially in the locker room. We're all feeling better about this season. It's been rough the last three years, but now it's a new program, a new coach, and I think a lot of us are buying into the system."

Added senior kicker/punter/wide receiver Andrew Ryczek: "Every time I step on the field I get butterflies."

Josh Christian will serve as Robinson's offensive coordinator and will have Matt McGraw under center again. McGraw (6-4, 180) started as a sophomore last season, but Grant scored just 114 points, second fewest in the Northern Lake County Conference.

Andriola ran a Wing-T formation, but under Robinson the Bulldogs will run zone and spread.

"We're looking to open it up and hopefully get our good, fast athletes out into space," McGraw said. "We should be able to create more plays. Our offense was second to last in the conference last year so we really needed to do something a lot different. We're looking a lot better than last year."

McGraw looks improved, too.

"He looks a lot more confident," Robinson said. "He's developing exactly to the point where we need him to be. He grasps everything that's new to him."

McGraw's weapons include three-year varsity running back Kenyon Jones, sophomore newcomer Noah Lautner and junior tight end Klaus Kathrein.

"I think (Lautner) is going to be a key part to our offense," McGraw said. "He's really shifty. Kenyon will have more open space to create."

The linemen, many of whom might play on both sides of the ball, include Keegan Bacara, Austin Sadowski and Collin Hurley.

Robinson, who will call the defense, has switched from a 4-3 front to a 3-5.

"Both offensively and defensively we're running systems that are a little more flexible, so it molds to the kids," Robinson said.

Viscioni (5-9, 150), who missed the first three games of last season because of an injury before becoming a starter, will be part of a young defense. In fact, as many as 10 sophomores could contribute on either side of the ball.

"Across the board, we got a very talented sophomore group," Robinson said.

Considering the Bulldogs are coming off back-to-back campaigns of 2-7, Robinson isn't focused solely on wins. He wants to see his players show up early to practice, be at every practice and be accountable on and off the field.

"We're focusing on those small things," Robinson said. "If those get taken care of, everything else falls into place."

"For everybody, but especially for our seniors, we want to give them a memorable year," the coach added. "That's a goal we have as a coaching staff because this senior group has proved their commitment to Grant. We feel like they deserve something."

Viscioni and Ryczek are seniors who want nothing more than to resurrect Grant's winning tradition.

"It's been lost these last three years," Viscioni said. "We want to bring back that Fox Lake, Grant, blue-collar tradition."

"I just want Grant football to be back in the community, and hopefully we can make the playoffs this year," Ryczek said. "We used to be known for football, and eventually that disappeared. I just want to have a good season."

His teammates and coaches, including the older ones, want the same thing.

  Kicker Andrew Ryczek makes a field goal as Evan Viscioni holds the ball during football practice at Grant High School. Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com
  Quarterback Matt McGraw throws the ball during football practice at Grant High School. Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com
  Running back Noah Lautner runs away from Spencer Welter during football practice at Grant High School. Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com
  Defensive back Evan Viscioni returns with the ball during football practice at Grant High School. Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com
  Offensive lineman Keegan Bachara, left. blocks Dylan Hernandez during football practice at Grant High School. Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com
  Head coach Chris Robinson during football practice at Grant High School. Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com
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